Scotland’s Chris Doak is considering getting dizzy more often after doubling Scotland’s U.S. Open hopes by winning through for a second year in succession at yesterday’s (MON) wet and miserable 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath.
Doak will now join Stephen Gallacher after rounds of 68 and 71 to finish among the leading 14 Pinehurst qualifiers.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry topped the qualifiers with scores of 69 and 69 for an eight under par total and just a day after missing out on automatically qualifying for the June 15th U.S. Open in finishing a stroke behind good friend Rory McIlroy for the BMW PGA Championship crown.
Doak was out on Walton Heath’s Old Course in the morning and played the New Course in the afternoon capping his second round with a 13th hole eagle.
Chris Doak (SCO) qualifies with a total score of -5 during the USGA US Open International Sectional Qualifier at Walton Heath. (Photo – David Lloyd / www.golffile.ie)
And after having to be treated for a middle ear infection and then suffering early round dizziness on Sunday and then heading out to secure his biggest-ever pay cheque in finishing 12th at Tour HQ the 36-year old could not be happier in also now teeing-up in his second Major.
“I’m really proud of myself and not a bad Bank Holiday’s work on top of a good weekend (smiling),” he said.
“I’m so delighted I might start dancing around in circles more often and get myself dizzy.
“I just continued the form I showed at Wentworth shooting four under this morning and when the rain came on heavy this afternoon, it was just a case of middle of the greens and take your chances when you can.
“But with the rain and the cold it was like you were hitting three extra clubs, so that made it even more difficult but then I got through and that was the plan today.”
Marc Warren’s fifth attempt at U.S. Open qualifying ended with scores of 73 and 70 for a one over par tally.
“My putter just went cold but the positive thing is that my game is good,” he said.
“I birdied the last but then I missed from five feet at 17, three-putted from 12 feet at 16 and left it in the jaws at 15 and lipped out on 14.”
Warren was heading straight for Malmo in Sweden and this week’s Nordea Masters and enjoying memories of his maiden Tour triumph in 2006 when he denied overwhelming crowd favourite Robert Karlsson in a play-off.
“I have good memories of Sweden even though it’s a new course but then I am staying the week in the same village as when I won the Scandinavian Masters,” said Warren.
“I just hope my putter will be a bit warmer than it was today.”
Also missing out on qualifying was Edinburgh’s Jamie McLeary (71 & 74 – 145) and Grantown-on-Spay’s Duncan Stewart (76 & 74 – 150).
Leading qualifiers:
136 Shane Lowry (Irl);
137 Niclas Fasth (Swe), Simon Griffiths (Wal), Garth Mulroy (Rsa);
139 Max Kieffer (Ger), Shiv Kapur (Ind), Graeme Storm (Eng), Chris Doak (Sco), Brooks Koepka (USA);
140 (four players qualified after play-off): Andrea Pavan (Ita), Ollie Fisher (Eng), Lucas Bjerregaard (Den), Tom Lewis (Eng).
Non qualifiers and alternates after play-off: Morten Orum Madsen (Den), Danny Willett (Eng).
