U.S. Open qualifier medalist doesn’t cut field Slack
What an impression Ebon Slack made on his future father-in-law, Mark Lucksinger, on Monday.
With Lucksinger caddying for him, Slack won the U.S. Open local qualifying tournament Monday at the Golf Club at Genoa Lakes. Slack carded a wining 3-under-par score of 69 to advance to the 36-hole sectionals at Tarzana Country Club next month.
“I was trying to get on his good side,” said the 24-year-old Slack. “He’s an exceptional putter and that’s my downfall. He and I had different ideas how some putts broke today and he was always right.”
Joining Slack in the next stage are Justin Peters, 70; Reno’s Butch Sheehan, 70; and Bob Klein Jr., 71. Klein Jr. survived a five-player playoff, winning on the third hole, for the fourth-and-final sectional qualifying spot. Sean Farren, Eddie Travis, Frank Roberson and Don Winter were the hard-luck losers in the playoff.
Slack rolled in birdie putts of 12 feet on No. 2, 15 feet on No. 3, two feet on No. 8 and eight feet on No. 11. The birdie opportunities were made possible because Slack didn’t miss a single fairway.
His only bogey came on the No. 5 when be blocked his second shot into the rough and lipped out a 12-foot par putt.
“I didn’t hit every green, so there were a couple of times were I got up and down around the green to keep the ball rolling,” Slack said. “To get into the 60s today with the way the course was set up and the field we had was pretty awesome.”
As a second-year assistant professional at Genoa Lakes, Slack had a slight edge on the 53-player field.
“I don’t know how much of an edge I had. A lot of the players are from the area and have played the course. If it was a factor, it was that I got to practice on the greens and practice shots out of the rough,” he said.
It was the first time a representative of the course – which has often hosted local Open qualifying – advanced into sectionals.
“He prepared real well and it showed. We’re all excited for him,” said Chris Holmes, who has worked with Slack the past couple of years at Genoa Lakes. “He gets focused on something and he goes for it.”
Slack’s biggest concern before nationals is trying to convince Lucksinger to carry his bag again.
“If he can get the days off, he’s my man. It will be another father-son outing. He walked 18 holes (Monday) and had a good time, but I don’t know if he can walk 36 holes with me. He says he needs to hit the exercise machine,” Slack joked.
Slack will wed Julie Lucksinger, whose father owns International Discount Golf & Winter Sports in South Lake Tahoe, on Oct. 3 at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
U.S. OPEN LOCAL QUALIFIER
AT GENOA LAKES
MONDAY
x-denotes player qualified for sectionals
x-Ebon Slack 69
x-Justin Peters 70
x-Butch Sheehan 70
x-Bob Klein Jr. 71
Sean Farren 71
Eddie Travis 71
Frank Roberson 71
Don Winter 71
Thomas Dawson 72
Steve Sheehan 72
Randy Shannon 72
Chris Thomas 72
David Nelson 73
Ross Jesswein 74
Mark Gilmartin 74
Thane Fisher 74
Terry Jarcik 74
Jake Wolf 74
Michael Kavner 74
Kevin Rutherford 74
Travis Whisman 74
Todd Michaelsen 75
Eric Bondenstein 75
Markus Zinke 75
Craig Miyamoto 75
Ryan Mitchell 75
David Koski 76
Tony Chieffo Jr. 76
Carlos Concha 76
Ray Pennington 76
Bob Leist Jr. 77
Brian Lotz 78
David Reed 78
Bob Niger 78
Matthew Woodhead 78
David Swanson 78
Will Coonen 79
Steve Hummel 79
Scot Orchard 80
Chris Goeschel 80
Randy Long 81
Jeffrey Williams 82
Michael Sizemore 82
Jason Harris 82
Jo Jo Coronado 82
Greg Bodenstein 84
Nate Kelley 84
Daniel Timmons Jr. 84
Wayne Williams 85
Scot Koren 85
Stephen Watson Jr. 86
Justin Eiguren 87
John Thompson DQ
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