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U.S. Open qualifier medalist doesn’t cut field Slack

Steve Yingling, Tribune Sports Editor

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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