It’s not as if there’s been an overabundance of spectacular golf days this season. Truth be told, there haven’t even been very many fair-to-middlin’ ones.
So it wasn’t surprising recently when Sherry Smith, in the midst of one of those rare occasions, decided to extend her outing beyond her originally intended nine holes.
However, sometime while basking in the sunshine on the back nine at Valley Country Club, something occurred to Smith — actually, two things. It was the last day to apply for the U.S. Women’s Open qualifier, and there was a two-hour time difference between Denver and the United States Golf Association offices in New Jersey.
“I ran into the (golf) shop, and I think I had about three minutes to spare,” Smith said.
There were exactly 2 minutes, 48 seconds remaining before the entry process closed. That was how Smith, a mother of two from Castle Rock, became the last of the record 1,296 women to declare their intent to compete in our national championship, the third major of the season. The USGA received entries from 47 of the 50 states (Alaska, Maine and Wyoming were the exceptions) and more than 40 countries.
The youngest entry came from 10-year-old Karen Kim of Corona, Calif. The oldest listed applicant was Narelle Kirkland, 64, of Bryn Mawr, Pa.
There are 68 players exempt into this year’s Open, which will be played July 8-11 at Oakmont Country Club in Ardmore, Pa. It comes back to Colorado and The Broadmoor next summer. Six spots in this year’s field will be held for women who win an official LPGA event between now and the start of the Open.
The remainder of the 156-player field will come from 20 36-hole qualifiers, which will be held across the country between Monday and June 3.
Smith, 47, will try to qualify May 31 at The Broadmoor.
An LPGA professional who teaches at Valley, Smith has played in the McDonald’s Championship, another LPGA major, four times. The delay in applying for this year’s Open came, in part, because Smith thought she could play in a regional qualifying round with clubs that didn’t conform to new USGA regulations.
Later, she discovered there was no regional round, only the sectional — and all clubs must confirm with the new rules. When her sponsor assured her that she’d get a new set on time, the mad dash began.
Despite her experience in other majors, Smith said she hasn’t tried to qualify for the Open in at least four or five years, “when the kids were little.”
Between helping raise a family and giving lessons, there wasn’t much time to work on her own game. Now, Smith said, the itch to test herself has returned — although she admits she has no idea how she’ll manage to carve out the time necessary to get ready for the qualifier.
“I just know that last year before the McDonald’s, I didn’t have nearly enough playing time and that really hurt me,” she said.
Smith also said she isn’t sure whether her effort will be enhanced or hindered by having to play 36 holes at The Broadmoor, versus the 18 that were previously the norm.
“I guess I’ll let you know when I’m done,” she said with a laugh.
Free lessons.
There’s still a little more than two weeks left for golfers to get a free 10-minute lesson with a PGA or LPGA professional. Not only is May free lesson month, but participants also have a chance to win a trip to the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance in Florida as well as a new set of clubs.
To find a pro near you, go to , click on the free lesson month icon, then enter your ZIP code.
Spotlight: Bobby Clampett
Opportunities await on Champions Tour
Projected to be the PGA Tour’s next big thing when he turned pro in 1980, Clampett never achieved stardom. The golden boy from BYU won just once, the 1982 Southern Open, and concentrated on a career in broadcasting as a golf commentator for CBS. Clampett now has another shot. He turned 50 on April 22 and made his debut on the Champions Tour with a tie for 47th place two weeks ago in the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. It will be interesting to see if Clampett makes a big jump up the leaderboard beginning Friday at the Regions Charity Classic in Birmingham, Ala.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
Golf gadget
EEZ-READ could help with reading greens
For many golfers, the reason for their putting problems is often the misreading of the greens rather than a loose putting stroke. The Momentus Golf EEZ-READ green reader is a good practice aid to help players develop that skill. A bubble level attached to a stainless steel disc, the EEZ-READ is to be placed between the ball and the hole. When the bubble moves to 6 o’clock, the putt is downhill. At 12 o’clock, it’s uphill. At 3 o’clock, the putt will break right-to-left. At 9 o’clock, it breaks left-to-right. Go to a practice green and read putts. But before putting, check with the EEZ-READ to see if your read was accurate. It retails for $14.99 at golf shops.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
This week’s tournaments
PGA Tour: Texas Open
TPC San Antonio, Oaks Course
Today-Friday: 1-4 p.m., Golf Channel
Saturday-Sunday: 1-4 p.m., KCNC-4
LPGA Tour: Bell Micro LPGA Classic
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Magnolia Grove, The Crossings, Mobile, Ala.
Today-Sunday: TV coverage on Golf Channel; today, 4:30 p.m.; Friday, 10 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m., midnight; Sunday, 2 p.m., midnight
Champions Tour: Regions Charity Classic
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Ross Bridge, Birmingham, Ala.
Friday-Sunday: TV coverage on Golf Channel; Friday, 4:30 p.m., midnight; Saturday, 4:30 p.m., 10 p.m.; Sunday, 4:30 p.m., 10 p.m.
