Golf notebook: Floridian tops Open qualifying in England

Golf notebook: Floridian tops Open qualifying in England









Tom LaMarre, The Sports Xchange July 1, 2013 12:10 AMThe SportsXchange


--Brooks Koepka of West Palm Beach, Fla., kept his brilliant run going by shooting 65-64--134, 6 under par, to lead international final qualifying for the 142nd Open Championshipat Sunningdale Golf Club in Sunningdale, England.



Koepka earned his first berth in the oldest championship in the world one day after winning for the third time on the Challenge Tour, the developmental circuit for the European Tour, in the Scottish Hydro Challenge at Macdonald Spey Valley Golf Clubin Aviemore, Scotland.



"It was a long day," said the 23-year-old Koepka, a former All-American at Florida State who had only two hours of sleep before catching a flight from Scotland to England for the qualifier.



"It's awesome to play in the Open; it's what you prepare your game to play in. Any major is special, but the Open is up there. Everybody wants to win it."



Niclas Fasth of Sweden posted a score of 68-69--137 and tied for seventh with Scott Jamieson of Scotland, who came in at 71-66--137.



Among the non-qualifiers were Thomas Levet of France at 70-70--140, Paul Casey of England at 70-71--141, Tom Lewis of England at 66-75--141, Michael Campbell of New Zealand at 72-70--142, Paul McGinley of Ireland at 71-72--143, Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain at 72-71--143 and Peter Uihlein of the United States at 73-71--144.



Stranahan, who was a fitness fanatic long before Gary Player and was nicknamed "The Toledo Strongman," had been a patient in the hospice facility for about a week, said his son, Lance.



Stranahan claimed 51 amateur titles, including the British Amateur in 1948 and 1950 when it was still considered a major championship, and lost to Sam Urzetta on the 39th hole in the final of the 1950 United States Amateur at Minneapolis Golf Club.



"Frank was a very close friend and a good guy," Arnold Palmer said when he was told of Stranahan's death. "I enjoyed my relationship with Frank very much, going back to my amateur days when we competed against each other on quite a few occasions.



When Stranahan turned pro in 1954, he had already won four times on the PGA Tour, at the 1945 Durham Open, the 1946 Kansas City Invitational Victory Bond Golf Tournament, the 1948 Ohio Open and the 1948 Miami Open.



During his amateur days, Stranahan finished second to Jimmy Demaret in the 1947 Masters, runner-up to Fred Daly of Ireland in the 1947 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool and second again in the 1953 Open behind Ben Hogan at Carnoustie.



Born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1922, he learned to play the game at the famed Inverness Golf Club, where he was taught by the club pro, Byron Nelson. Stranahan's father, R.H. Stranahan, founded Champion Spark Plug.



Stranahan, who attended Harvard, the University of Miami and the University of Pennsylvania, was proceeded in death by his wife, Ann, and sons Jimmy and Frank Jr.



The USGA and R&A ruled on May 21 that anchored putters will be banned beginning with the 2016 season.




"As we have seen over the past few months, the Rules of Golf can affect recreational golf in addition to play at the elite level. The PGA of America will continue to confer with the PGA Touron the subject of Rule 14-1b, and the PGA of America will reserve any public comments on this matter until after the PGA Tour Policy Board meets on July 1."



--Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand, one of the best young women's golfers in the world, withdrew two days before the start of the U.S. Women's Open at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., because of a right shoulder injury.



However, she phoned the United States Golf Association to withdraw from the tournament with enough time that the first alternate, amateur Hannah Suh of Daly City, Calif., could take her place in the field.



Ariya slipped while running down a hill chasing her sister with a bottle of water.



If her shoulder is better, Jutanugarn plans to play in a Monday qualifier for the Marathon Classic, which will be contested July 18-21 at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio.



Even though she is not a member of the LPGA Tour, she has made quite an impact on the circuit this season while getting into tournaments through Monday qualifying and sponsor's exemptions.



A rookie on the Ladies European Tour, she captured the Lalla Meryem Cup at Golf de l'Ocean in Agadir, Morocco, by three strokes over Beth Allen of Ventura, Calif., in March.



Martin, 41, who has blood-circulation difficulties because of Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, won a 2001 Supreme Court decision against the PGA Tour that allowed his use of a cart during tournaments because of his disability.



"I've never felt more discriminated against or unfairly taken advantage of in my entire life," Martin told Golfweek magazine.



However, when he was observing play on the sixth hole, Pawlak approached him and said that USGA rules prohibited spectators from using golf carts, so Martin relinquished the cart.



Martin said Mike Davis, the USGA's executive director, apologized to him after Martin called to discuss the incident.



Martin gave up the cart and was told to seek a single-rider cart at the clubhouse, but none was available, so he left the course.



In the USGA's 2013 "Qualifying Manual," a section addresses carts at USGA events: "Golf Carts/Scooters for Spectators -- Golf carts will not be provided to spectators (including club members) at any USGA Qualifying location or the Championship proper, regardless of availability at the site or condition of spectator. The USGA makes scooter transport units available at most Championship sites on a first come, first served basis. Offering to take a 'disabled' person to a couple of selected spots on the course to view play as it comes through that area is acceptable and should be encouraged. No one will be shuttled to view play hole by hole, regardless of their condition or relationship to a player in the event."



Martin played the PGA Tour in 2000 after having qualified in 1999 by placing 14th in earnings on what was then the Nike Tour. Martin returned to the developmental tour for the 2001-03 seasons, then played a reduced schedule from 2004-06.

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