By Jason Strait
The Associated Press

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. - Trip Kuehne insists he has no interest in turning pro, even on a birdie-filled day when the part-time player outclassed several of the world's best.

Kuehne, a 30-year-old equity salesman, said no amount of success - and he had plenty Friday at the U.S. Open - would persuade him to try golf as a profession. He's happy to head home to his wife and 3-year-old son in Irving, Texas, where he makes a living analyzing stocks instead of putts.

"I shot 67, which is great, but these guys are tearing the course up," he said, overstating things a bit. Only eight players had a better second round than Kuehne - a short list that included Tiger Woods and overall leader Vijay Singh.

Still, Kuehne says he's here to have fun, nothing more.

"I can't compete with these guys day in and day out. It would be different if I had the dedication and the drive," Kuehne said. "I don't."

Kuehne, who squeezes in events by taking vacation time from his job as a vice president at Legg-Mason, may be best known as the runner-up to Woods in the 1994 U.S. Amateur championship.

He also led Oklahoma State to the 1995 NCAA title, but has since faded from the spotlight now occupied by his two siblings.

Younger brother Hank Kuehne is the PGA tour's longest driver and led the 2002 Canadian Tour money list before earning his tour card. Sister Kelli Kuehne won the 1999 LPGA Corning Classic.

At 1-over after two rounds, Kuehne made the cut - just as he did in his only other Open appearance in 1996. And just like then, his amateur status will prevent him from taking home any winnings.

He believes he'll leave with something even better.

"I was on the practice green, and I didn't know my son was there," he said. "I made a put and I heard this, 'Yeah, dad!"

"I don't know how many of these rodeos I have left in me. But I hope (my son) remembers this. I know I will."

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REMEMBERING SQUEAKY

Watching Tom Watson and his caddie Bruce Edwards receive ovation after ovation at the U.S. Open brought back memories - good and sad - for Nick Price.

The pair were cheered on every hole a day after Watson shot a tournament-leading 65 and a few months after Edwards was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.

Edwards doesn't know how much time he has left. Patients often die within five years of their first symptoms. There is no cure.

Price lost his longtime caddie and close friend, Jeff "Squeaky" Medlen, to leukemia. He died six years ago this Monday. He was 43.

"I can certainly relate to what they're going through, because I had a similar experience with Squeaky," Price said. "I can understand the emotion that they went through.

"I'm happy for Tom and Bruce that they played well and they're enjoying more of that - more of those memories - together."

Price, who tied for eighth at the Open last year, shot a 5-under 65 on Friday and is three strokes off the lead.

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HAT'S OFF

In a sport where every stitch of clothing is emblazoned with a sponsor's name, Robert Damron's plain black cap drew notice.

Asked if the empty space was for sale, he said, "You got it."

"Name your price. You can have it," Damron said.

He could have a few offers after the Open.

The 30-year-old Damron shot a 2-under 68 on Friday and is 3-under for the tournament, four strokes off the lead. It's his strongest start of the year, and best chance for a win. In 16 PGA events, he missed the cut nine times and withdrew from two others.

"I've just been making mistake after mistake," he said. "I'm just going to try to eliminate mental mistakes and not put any extra pressure on myself."

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CHOO! CHOO!

The deep bunkers and narrow fairways of Olympia Fields weren't the only hazards to trip up the field.

Horn blasts from rumbling trains caught a few players, too.

Commuter trains run throughout the day from downtown Chicago to the course's doorstep. The tracks run alongside hole No. 1, but the train whistles can be heard from anywhere on the course.

"I was about to go and I think there was a freight train," Stuart Cink said. "It was definitely one of those diesel-electrics that got me once. Then I had to back off and I went back to the ball and it got me again. ... I missed the fairway."

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COOL KID

Sixteen-year-old Tom Glissmeyer won't soon forget his final putt at the U.S. Open.

The Colorado Springs, Colo., teen knocked in a 16-footer for birdie on No. 18 in front of a packed grandstand to break 80, capping a memorable two days at Olympia Fields. The putt brought a huge smile to the honors student's face and the crowd to its feet.

Glissmeyer shot 80-79 over two rounds. The youngest entrant in the field, Glissmeyer qualified for the Open after carding a 3-under 141 at a tournament in Columbine Country Club.

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SINGH SWITCH

Despite four wins in the last two years, Vijay Singh dumped caddie Paul Tesori before the Open for Dave Renwick.

Renwick, who recently left the struggling Lee Westwood, carried Singh's bag when he won his two majors, the '98 PGA Championship and the 2000 Masters. Renwick also worked with Jose Maria Olazabal and Steve Elkington when they won majors.

"I've got a little more calmer effect with Dave being on the bag," Singh said. "I was happy to have him back. He's so sure when you're over the ball, you're more confident in what you're doing."