U.S. Open: John Pak struggles on Saturday
John Pak (USGA)
John Pak became the lone amateur to make the cut at Winged Foot thanks to rounds of 69 and 76 for a 36-hole total of 145 just nine shots back of the lead.
Saturday saw the Florida State Seminole struggle more than he has all week. Starting the day, Pak looked comfortable as he escaped the thick second cut on No. 1 to kick-off his day with a solid two-putt par. On the second, Pak rattled home a birdie on the statistically hardest hole on the course with a touchy downhill right to left 10-footer for birdie.
Four under for the championship and one under on the day, Pak was once again hit with the Winged Foot welcome. Bogeys on Nos. 3, 4, 6, 7, and a double bogey on No. 8 were separated with a lone par on the fifth.
Out with a 5-over 40, Pak seemed to have settled into a rhythm with a bogey on No. 10 that was negated with a birdie on the par 5 12th. Unable to stay consistent in a positive way, Pak rattled off four consecutive bogeys on hole Nos. 13-16.
Finally disembarking the bogey train with a par on the par 4 17th, Pak finished his third round with a par on the 18th to card his tournament worst 9-over 79.
Already locking up low-amateur honors as the only amateur to make the cut, Pak will be playing for pride on Sunday as he looks to chip away at his current 14 over par score. As it stands, Pak is one shot clear of last place Abraham Ancer and sits in a tie for 60th place alongside Troy Merritt.
Tee times will be announced at the conclusion of play Saturday.
ABOUT THE
U.S. Open Golf Championship
The U.S. Open is the biggest of the 15 national
championships conducted by the USGA.
Open
to amateurs and professionals. Amateurs gain
entry via USGA win or runner-up finishes while having the opportunity
to qualify alongside non-exempt professionals in an 18-hole "Local' qualifying followed
by 36-hole "Final" qualifying which is affectionately known as golf's longest day.
Highly-ranked amateurs will be exempted past the 18-hole Local Qualifying. See the
USGA website for details. And if you are exempt on any level be sure to apply by the deadline anyway.
The USGA intends to make the U.S. Open
the
most rigorous, yet fair, examination of golf
skills, testing all forms of shot-making. The
USGA prepares the course after careful
consideration of 14 different factors.
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