Wilson heading
to U.S. Open
Dean Wilson hasn't had much success in the four major tournaments he's participated in.
The Kaneohe native finished tied for 30th at the 2001 U.S. Open, but missed the cut in his three other majors.
Wilson, who was in the limelight last month when he was paired with Annika Sorenstam at the Bank of America Colonial, qualified yesterday for the U.S. Open for the second time in his career.
Wilson shot a 67-69--136 in Columbus, Ohio, to finish in a tie for sixth place, good enough to earn a spot in next week's U.S. Open outside of Chicago. Stewart Cink fired a 62-61--123 for the best score in the group -- nine shots better than his closest competitor.
Wilson, 33, missed the cut at last year's British Open and PGA Championship, and at the British in 2001. At his only other U.S. Open appearance, Wilson carded an 8-over 288 to tie for 30th place. He earned $30,055 for his efforts.
Wilson has been up and down in his first year with a tour card, missing the cut in four tournaments, but also finishing in the top 30 six times -- including a sixth-place finish at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson at the end of February. He has earned $489,797 this year.
More than 750 players competed for 83 spots during three days of sectional qualifying.
Other players to qualify for the U.S. Open yesterday included Bill and Jay Haas, former Masters champion Larry Mize and Neal Lancaster, who twice set the nine-hole record at a U.S. Open with a 29.
Bill and Jay Haas are the first father-son duo at the U.S. Open since Jack and Gary Nicklaus in 1997.
Among those who failed to qualify were former PGA champion Steve Elkington, Jean Van de Velde and Hank Kuehne, whose brother, Trip, qualified earlier this week in Texas.
Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton opened with a 71 yesterday, but withdrew with seven holes to play because of wet conditions.
John Daly also withdrew, although it's doubtful he was upset. Asked last week at the Memorial if he looked forward to the U.S. Open, Daly said, "Nah. I never have, I never will. But it is a major."
Daly is famous for swatting a moving ball with his putter on the eighth hole at Pinehurst No. 2 in 1999, and he withdrew after opening with an 83 at Pebble Beach in 2000.