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Local golf: Former FGCU golfers Lamely, Hickman among those advancing at Open local qualifier
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A pair of buddies who played together on the Florida Gulf Coast University golf team advanced in U.S. Open qualifying on Tuesday.
Derek Lamely tied for medalist honors with a 3-under-par 69 and Jason Hickman won a sudden-death playoff with a par on the first hole to grab the sixth and final spot at Naples National Golf Club.
“One day, it doesn’t matter if you’re Tiger Woods or whoever, you’ve still got to go out and do it,’’ Lamely said.
Jon McDonald, who works at West Bay Club in Estero, tied Lamely with a 69.
Ric Nalyd, the 52-year-old head professional at Bonita Bay Club East, and Daniel Augustine, a 28-year-old who works seasonally at Naples National, tied for third with 70s.
“I just rely on experience,’’ Nalyd said. “It’s about being one of the older guys.’’
Colby Beckstrom, a former Naples resident and mini-tour player, was fifth with a 71.
On the first playoff hole, the par-4 10th, Hickman, 27, hit his tee shot in the right rough, but managed to knock his approach just in front of the green.
Andres Pumariega of Miami hit his drive in a waste bunker behind a tree, and was forced to hit a hook shot around the tree. He ended up pin-high to the left of the green, but missed a 10-footer for par. Hickman putted from off the green from 50 feet to six feet, then sank the putt to make it to the sectional for the first time.
“I played good all day, and just didn’t score,’’ said Hickman, whose fiancee, Cari, was his caddie.
Hickman, who has returned to Southwest Florida and has been caddieing at Old Collier Golf Club, scored well on one hole, the par-4 No. 7. He holed out from 165 yards with a 7-iron.
Lamely, McDonald, Nalyd, Beckstrom and Hickman all will play at the 36-hole sectional in Columbus, Ohio, on June 2. Augustine will play in Lake Forest, Ill., on the same date.
The Open is June 12-15 at Torrey Pines in San Diego.
McDonald, 26, played collegiately at Otterbein College in Columbus, Ohio, and is working in the cart barn at West Bay Club. He previously was at Bonita Bay Club for three years.
Tuesday, McDonald did not hit a driver all day, using 3-woods when needed off the tee. He played the par-5s in 3-under and was even on the other holes.
“I just hit 3-wood everywhere, and I made a lot of four- and five-footers,’’ said McDonald, who was in position to advance last year before double-bogeying two of the last three holes.
Lamely, 27, made it to sectionals after failing to advance the past two years. Lamely, who works with swing coach and Daily News tips columnist Jim Suttie, started par-birdie-par-eagle, chipping in for a 3 on the par-5 fourth hole from just short of the green.
Augustine qualified for the second time in as many attempts at his place of employment. He made it out in 2006, the last time the local qualifier was at Naples National. Augustine hit 16 of 18 greens and missed only two fairways.
Nalyd had five birdies and three bogeys — the latter all on par-3s.
Beckstrom, 25, nearly qualified for the Open last year, losing out in an 11-way playoff for the final spot. This is the fourth year in a row he’s advanced to the sectional, but he’s never made it to the Open.
U.S. Open local qualifier
At Naples National Golf Club
Qualifiers
1. Derek Lamely, Fort Myers 69; 1. Jon McDonald, Jackson, Ohio 69; 3. Daniel Augustine, Naples 70; 3. Ric Nalyd, Fort Myers, 70; 5. Colby Beckstrom, Muskegon, Mich., 71; *6. Jason Hickman, Fort Myers, 72
Alternates
1. Andres Pumariega, Miami 72; *2. Dennis Riedel, St. Clair, Mich. 73
Other scores
73 — A.J. Duncan, Naples; Aaron Sherry, Fort Myers; Connor Arendell, Cape Coral; Jay Mills, Monroe, N.C.
74 — Brandon Collier, Naples; Chris Trout, Cape Coral; Boomer Erick, Naples; Mark Murphy, Ireland; Nolan Henke, Fort Myers; Rene Bartum, Ocala; Scott Newhouse, Naples
75 — Brendan Sheehan, Fort Myers; David Kent, Naples; Justin Bertsch, Sandusky, Ohio; Nevin Sutcliffe, Lehigh Acres; Paul Coulthurst, Naples
76 — David Damesworth, Southfield, Mich.; Drew Pierson, Lockport, Ill.; Justin McCarraher, Fort Myers
77 — C.J. Simpson, Lehigh Acres; Marc Hocking, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Mitch Jefferson, New London, N.H.; Ryan Burr, Davie; Ryan Richardson, Naples
78 — Clayton Rodgers, Fort Myers; David Steele, Bonita Springs; Jeff Steele, Vero Beach; Nick Ayala, Parkland
79 — Adam Lazar, Fenton, Mich.; Brandon Lee, Fort Myers; Chris Carpenter, Naples; Jimmy Othus, High Springs; John Lee, Naples; Oliver Gendron, Naples; Rob Thorngate, Naples; Thomas Massey, Naples
80 — John Jurkovac, Fort Myers; Ronald Ryan, Naples; Spencer Cole, Greer, S.C.
81 — Ben Lane, Fort Myers; Corey Henry, Boca Raton; Cory Schaub, Naples; James Opyt, Naples; Kyle Olson, Naples; Mark Durland, Naples
82 — Clay Poff, Ann Arbor, Mich.; David Farr, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Jacques Legere, Fort Myers; Josh Lubbers, Webster City, Iowa; Nate Johnson, Naples; Nick Stokke, Naples
83 — Dirk Saurbier, Naples; 84 — Keaton Phillips, Naples; Mark McCabe, Naples; Riann Potgieter, South Africa; Todd Sims, Miami Beach
85 — Bruce Harwood, Fort Myers; Emilio Mariconda, Naples; Hank Garris, Naples
86 — Gavin Donaghy, Ireland; Hank Porter, Naples; Nick Clearwater, Fort Myers
87 — Casey Swink, Cape Coral; Michael Smuniewski, Charleston, S.C.; 88 — Brian Rigsby, Estero; Juan Rodriguez, Naples
89 — Jon Pazdera, Kewaunee, Wis.; 93 — Chad Eggleston, Naples; 94 — David Wherry, Bonita Springs
WD — Derrick Sherard, Greenwood, Ind.; Thomas Currier, West Olive, Mich.
NS — Kyle Hrubes, Cape Coral; Tee McCabe, Marco Island
NC — John Rupe, Naples; Kenny Tolles, Cape Coral; Ryan Middleton, Cape Coral
* won playoff







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