StrokerAce Posted June 6, 2018 Share Posted June 6, 2018 probably a-hundred-and-one US Open qualifying stories out there.... I've read a number of them over the last couple days but this one stuck with me. right when this guy could have given it up, packed it in and figured his chance was over he went for broke and made it.... really great lessons in here about never giving up until that final putt drops Anything you've read that you'd like to share? Personally know anyone who qualified? ============== Missouri journeyman gets into U.S. Open after an improbable finish at sectional qualifying The best stories out of U.S. Open sectional qualifying tend to be, to borrow from Carl Spackler, the Cinderella stories. Sure, we all enjoy reading about PGA Tour veterans who go back to the salt mine of 36-hole qualifying, put on a pair of shorts and sweat out earning another spot into a major championship (yes, we're talking about you Adam Scott). And there are the heartfelt tales of up-and-coming amateurs who ride a hot putter into their first trip to the big time. But it's stories in the space between that fulfill the Open part of U.S. Open. And so it's time to introduce Chris Naegel, a 35-year-old from Wildwood, Mo., who's journey to his first ever major championship has a bit of a Roy McAvoy/Tin Cup quality to it. Naegel's background is anchored in golf. A former college player at Missouri Baptist, Naegel has partial status on the Web.com Tour and has played in four events this season, even finishing T-7 at last month's Nashville Golf Open. And once he had full status there in 2016. But much of his career has been spent fighting the good fight on the mini-tours. Since turning pro in 2008, Naegel has spent time on the Hooters Tour while also competing occasionally on the Adams Tour and the Minor League Golf Tour. It was in 2012, in the eGolf Tour's Oldfield Open, that he claimed his professional victory. And the "best" he's ever been on the World Ranking is 965th (he's currently ranked 1,081st). It's not just his scramble to succeed in the game that makes the fact he qualified for the U.S. Open so intriguing. It's the way he grabbed himself a locker at Shinnecock Hills. On the 14th tee in his second 18 at Shadow Hawk Golf Club in Richmond, Texas., Naegel stood at six under, a respectable score but seemingly out of the hunt for one of the three qualifying spots for the 52 players in the field. Blaine Hale, who just finished his junior season at Oklahoma, was already in at 10 under par after shooting an afternoon 65, and two college amateurs from LSU, Jacob Bergeron and Philip Barbaree, were en route to finishing at 11 under. Undaunted—or perhaps oblivious to what he needed to do coming in—Naegel made birdies on the 14th and 15th holes. A bogey on 16 looked like it was the end … until Naegel birdied the 17th hole and then made an eagle on the par-5 18th to match Hale's 65 and get 10 under. After forcing the playoff, Naegel then took down Hale to earn his first ever start in a major championship. Driver- Titleist TSR3 10* Woods- Cobra LTD 3w 15*, 5W 19* Irons- Titleist 718 AP2 (5i-50*) Wedges- Callaway Jaws Raw (54/58) Putter- Wilson Infinite Grant Park Ball- Maxfli Tour X Buggy- Motocaddy M7 GPS Remote Electric Caddy Bag- Motocaddy Dry-Series Proudly testing for 2024: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.P. Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Wow, what a finish. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy G400MAX Driver 10.5* w/ Kuro Kage S XR16 3W w/ MF AT S XR OS 19* Hybrid w/ FS Evolution II 565 4-PW AP3 w/ TT AMT Black SM6 50.8 F w/ TT Dynamic Gold MD3 56.12 W w/ TT Dynamic Gold Tommy Armour Impacty Series #3 Alignment Putter Ogio GROM Black Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nunfa0 Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Brilliant stuff, hope he plays well. In my cart Bag: Driver: King F9 9° - LH - Atmos Blue TS 6 Stiff Woods: King F9 - LH - 3/4 Wood - Atmos Blue 7 Reg Z U85 2 Iron Irons: T200 4 Iron AMT White S300 T100S - LH - 3-48* - AMT White S300 Wedges: Indi FLX- LH - 52° 56° 60° - True Temper Spinner Wedge shafts Putter: 2 Bar Hybrid Ball: Pro V1x Testing: Haywood CB/MB Combo Iron Set, 4-7 Cavity backs, 8-PW Muscle Backs, Nippon Modus Tour 115 Stiff, 2 Degrees stronger lofts. Tracked By: Follow me on Twitter @ham12_hampton and on Instagram @Nunfa0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perseveringgolfer Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 great, one to watch Driver Awaiting NEW Driver (after 10 yrs) 4 Wood Callaway Big Bertha Steelhead plus 4+ Callaway shaft in 'Firm' flex Hybrid Titleist 910H 19* Diamana ahina 'flower' shaft in 'S' Irons Mizuno MP18SC 4-PW N.S Pro Modus3 Tour 105 in 'S' Wedges Callaway Mack Daddy forged in black 50* and 54* KBS Tour in 'R' Putter 'YES' Tracy 11 C groove 34.5" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
russtopherb Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Now that's what you call sticking with it and grinding it out! In my Big Max hybrid bag: ST-X 10.5* Kai'li Blue R Flex ST-Z 15* Kai'li Blue R Flex ST-Z 4h Linq Blue R Flex Halo XL 5i-DW CBX 54* & 58* ER5 Tour S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfspy_CG2 Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Gotta love the US Open. I talked alot about that on my radio spot this week. How guys like our own DLK could be playing with us this week and then on the range with Tiger and Rory next week. Such a great Chamoionship. Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy G430 Max 10K TSiR1 15.0 Aldlia Ascent 60g TSR2 18.0 PX Aldila Ascent 6og TSi1 20 Aldila Ascent Shafts R T350 5-GW SteelFiber I80 SM10 48F/54M and58K S159 48S/52S/56W/60B Select 5.5 Flowback 35" ProV1 Play number 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jmikecpa Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 My son has been trying to get me to enter the qualifier for the last few years and actually sent me this story with the title "So there is a chance.....". Glad he has faith in me but I think that the LOFT issue would keep me from even sniffing getting past the local level. WITB 2024 Driver: Qi10 LS 9* HZRDUS RDX Smoke Blue 60 TX Fairway: BRNR Mini Driver Copper 13.5* Evenflow Black 75x Fairway: Sim 19* RDX Smoke Red 75 TX Hybrid: Sim2 Rescue 22* Matrix Black Tie 85x Hybrid: X Utility Proto 25* Evenflow White 100x Irons: X Forged CB 6 - PW MMT 105 TX Wedges: Jaws Raw 50*, 54* & 58* TTDG "OG" Spinner Putter: Toulon Madison 34" BGT Stability Ball: Z Star Diamond Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMookie Posted June 8, 2018 Share Posted June 8, 2018 My coach in S. Louisiana has one of his young ones qualify!!! Jacob Bergeron, who just finished his Freshman year at LSU. Pretty cool. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro Driver: Ping G430 Max 9*, Ping Tour 70X Fairway: Ping G425 15*, Ping Tour 70X Hybrid: Ping G425 22*, Ping Tour 80X Irons: Ping i230 4-GW, TT DG X100 Wedges: SMS 50D/54V/58DModus 130 stiff, +1” Putter: EAS 1.0 Ball: Titleist 2023 AVX Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StrokerAce Posted June 8, 2018 Author Share Posted June 8, 2018 My coach in S. Louisiana has one of his young ones qualify!!! Jacob Bergeron, who just finished his Freshman year at LSU. Pretty cool. IMG_5457.JPG Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro WOW! Awesome.... what an incredible experience for this young man. Hope your coach gets a chance to see him play. Driver- Titleist TSR3 10* Woods- Cobra LTD 3w 15*, 5W 19* Irons- Titleist 718 AP2 (5i-50*) Wedges- Callaway Jaws Raw (54/58) Putter- Wilson Infinite Grant Park Ball- Maxfli Tour X Buggy- Motocaddy M7 GPS Remote Electric Caddy Bag- Motocaddy Dry-Series Proudly testing for 2024: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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