Mini-tour player Howard embodies the democratic spirit of the U.S. Open
Rousted from bed early Wednesday morning in his apartment in Fort Worth, Tex., Cole Howard received a call he’ll never forget. It was an invitation to play in the U.S. Open Sectionals for the first time.
Monday at Woodmont Country Club, carrying his bag for all 36 holes, Howard cashed-in on his long-shot dream, going from sectional alternate to qualifier for the U.S. Open. The 26-year-old mini-tour player fired 73-70 – 143 to secure one of seven slots in a field of 78. Howard will play at Olympic Club in San Francisco, June 14-17.
“Thrill of my career,” Howard said. “I was thrilled just to have the opportunity to be here. Now this.”
Others who made it through Monday in Rockville, Md. were medalist Shane Bertsch (140), Michael Thompson (142), Paul Claxton (143), Jeff Curl (143), Darren Stiles (143), and Nicholas Thompson (143), older brother of LPGA prodigy Lexi Thompson.
All the qualifiers have extensive PGA and/or Nationwide Tour experience, with the exception of Howard, who embodies the democratic spirit of the event, which is open to all players with a handicap index of 1.4 or better. This year, 9,005 players entered.
“I’m still sort of in shock,” Howard said. “I guess I’m really going to San Francisco.”
Ranking No. 30 on the money list of the Golfweek National Pro Tour, Howard has earned $12,847.50 in eight events. He played on the Hooters Tour last year, along with the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series, where he captured the 2011 Beaumont Open, the lone victory of his professional career.
The win, for which he earned $11,665, used to be his career highlight. That was before he was awoken early Wednesday.
“I jumped out of bed, called my parents, started looking for flights,” Howard said. “Couldn’t wait to get here. Get it on.”
Howard, a North Texas graduate, played Woodmont for the first time on Sunday.
“I hit it all over the place,” Howard said, shaking his head. “Today, I didn’t hit it my best. But the putter was there – so many clutch five-footers.”
Howard’s biggest putt came on No. 17, a 20-footer to save par after he drove into the lip of a fairway bunker. When his birdie try from 30 feet on No. 18 came up an inch short, Howard thought it might have cost him a chance to qualify.
As one of the first players finished on Monday, Howard spent a long time watching anxiously as scores were posted. When it became clear he was in, Howard called his parents in Texas. His next planned call, once he hit the parking lot, was going to his former coach at McLennan Community College, Vince Clark.
“One of the biggest influences in my life, right after my father and my grandfather — I look at him as a friend, a brother, a dad,” Howard said. “Going to McLennan was the best thing I ever did for my life, in general, meeting him and the people down there were great.”
Another call Howard planned to make was to Brian Mills, a friend since they were grade-schoolers. They played high school golf together and now are buddies on the Golfweek Tour.
“I want him to caddy for me at Olympic,” said Howard. “It should be a blast.”
