English in contention at U.S. Open
Harris English, one of the many players connected with Cartersville Country Club’s Scott Hamilton and the Scott Hamilton Golf Academy, is in contention at the 2016 U.S. Open.
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Competition in championship golf can be very unfair, and that is just one of the reasons why we love it.
Oakmont County Club, host of the 2016 U.S. Open, is already arguably the world’s greatest test of golf and this week Mother Nature decided to factor in an additional twist.
As if the 7,254 yard, par 70 layout and the pressure of a $10 million purse were not enough, soaking rains moved through the Pittsburgh area Thursday and made the assigned starting times almost as much a factor as the play of the competitors themselves.
Typically, players face one 18-hole round per day and have one of their first two rounds assigned in the morning and one in the afternoon.
That has not been the case this week.
With the rain and lightning interruptions Thursday, United States Golf Association officials were forced to squeeze in play for the first two rounds across a three-day stretch forcing players to constantly adapt to changing course conditions. Many players did not finish their second rounds until Saturday afternoon while others played all 36 holes of their first two rounds in a single day on Friday.
The rigorous course conditions of Oakmont and the mental toll of the weather-delayed schedule have already claimed some familiar names as victims.
Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, and Justin Rose were among the many fan favorites to miss the 36-hole cut and will not be around when Sunday’s championship trophy is awarded.
36-hole leader, Dustin Johnson, played both rounds Friday and fired 67-69 for a 4-under total and a one stroke lead over Andrew Landry.
Four players are two shots back, including Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowery, Scott Piercy, and Gregory Bourdy. Jim Furyk, Lee Westwood, Daniel Summerhays, and Andrew Sullivan are the only other players heading to the final two rounds under par at 1-under.
One of the players who works with Cartersville Country Club’s Scott Hamilton and the Scott Hamilton Golf Academy heads to the weekend in the top twenty.
Harris English, opened with rounds of 70-71 and stood tied for 16th at 1-over par as the third round began Saturday afternoon. The Valdosta, GA born player, former Tennessee high school state champion, and former University of Georgia Bulldog tees off Saturday afternoon at 3:55pm just five shots off the lead.
Two other Scott Hamilton Golf Academy players, Chris Kirk (75-73) and Steven Bowditch (84-73), missed the 36-hole cut.
A pair of former SHGA players also made the U.S. Open cut. Kevin Kisner and Rob Oppenheim are 4-over moving to the final two rounds.
See the SHGA bio for Harris English at this LINK
Television coverage of the U.S. Open continues on FOX until 8pm Saturday and is available Sunday from 11am to conclusion around 7:30pm.
The third round was scheduled to begin at 3pm Saturday and will likely be completed Sunday morning before the final round begins.
