When the 2009 United States Open tees off Thursday at Bethpage Black Golf Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Ball State University golfer Anthony Novak will not be among those trying to tame Tiger Woods. However, it will not be due to lack of effort.
The Ball State sophomore was one of 18 amateurs who competed in the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Tournament at the NCR Country Club in Dayton, Ohio, on June 8. Novak fired rounds of 77 and 75 for a total of 152. The rest of the 66 golfer field consisted of professionals from both the PGA and Nationwide Tours. Top score at the qualifier was 130.
"I've played in a lot of tournaments with great talent," Novak said. "But this was different. There were 40 or 50 tour pros; there's not just a few good players out there, everyone's good that's there. It was a great experience."
Novak, who has played golf since the age of 7, also tried to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Open, but failed to advance beyond the local qualifier, shooting 76. At this year's local qualifier, Novak shot 70, good enough for second place out of a field of 80 golfers, and enabling him to advance to the sectional qualifier at NCR.
Novak is certain he will try to qualify for the 2010 U.S. Open, and his experience at this year's sectional qualifier will pay dividends down the road. The 2011 MAC Championship Golf Tournament will be held at NCR Country Club in Dayton, Ohio.
"We're playing conference at that course my senior year," Novak said. "So it was a great warm-up to get to see that course. It's always nice to go someplace you've played before. It'll definitely be a course I've seen before. So I'm looking forward to that."
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