WHAMMY FOR CHAMP
Jamie would Love to make a major Mark
There is something about new U.S. Open venues that brings out the best in Jamie Lovemark. Two years ago, Lovemark tied for 18th at Chambers Bay in the Open debut for the Washington state course. He’s in contention again going into this weekend at another new Open course, Erin Hills. Lovemark shot his second straight 3-under 69 on Friday to pull within a shot of the lead.
Not bad for someone who had to claim one of the 14 qualifying spots at the tough Columbus, Ohio, sectional last week to make it to Wisconsin.
“Yeah, it’s a good spot to be in,” he said. “And I’m sure it will be rough this weekend.” The top of the leaderboard is bunched up, with four players tied for the lead at 7 under, and three more a stroke behind, including Lovemark. Cameron Champ is one of the longest hitters at the U.S. Open. He keeps to himself while he plays. There is a quiet confidence about him as he makes his way around Erin Hills. Nothing amateur about his game. He looks right at home in one of golf’s biggest tournaments.
The 22-year-old Champ blasted his way to a 3-under 69 in the second round, drawing attention for his long drives and steady putting. No amateur has won the Open since Johnny Goodman in 1933, but the easygoing Champ appears to be gaining confidence the longer he lurks near the top of the leaderboard.
“I came in this week with no expectations really at all,” he said. “I just — the only expectation I had was to be low Am. I played well. The course sets up very well for me off the tee. If you hit it off the tee you can score.”
On the 603-yard 14th, he got to the green in two. His tee shot on 18 traveled almost 353 yards, and he finished his round with a 12-footer to get to 5 under.
Champ has hit 21 of 28 fairways so far and leads the field with a driving average of 339.2 yards, which he brushed off as nothing new.
REAVIE’S RUN
Chez Reavie did what he thought couldn’t be done at a U.S. Open. His 7-under 65 matched Rickie Fowler and Hideki Matsuyama for the low score in the first two rounds at Erin Hills.
Reavie moved to 4-under 140, three shots back of the lead on a bunched-up leaderboard.
“I knew I could shoot a few under par and make the cut,” he said. “You don’t think you’re going to shoot 7-under par at the U.S. Open.” Reavie is playing in his fifth Open, but first since 2012 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
BACKING OUT
Back problems forced Danny Willett to pull out of another tournament. The 2016 Masters champion withdrew before his tee time in the second round. Willett had a terrible opening round, shooting 9-over 81. The 29-year-old Willett has had recurring back issues during his career.
ELDERLY FAN DIES
A 94-year-old man died during the second round. Authorities say the death appears to be of natural causes.
Rescue personnel and sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the grandstand next to the sixth green Friday after the Wauwatosa man was reported to be without a pulse.
Lt. Robert Stuesser of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department says in a release handed out by the United States Golf Association that emergency personnel performed CPR.
The man was transferred to an ambulance, where he was pronounced dead. No other information was provided. The USGA says its “thoughts and prayers are with those surrounding this individual during this difficult time.”