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Collegian not fazed by Open berth

A new day dawned, and Kevin Warrick was still in the U.S. Open. Really.

"It's starting to sink in," he said.

Warrick, 21, awoke Wednesday to a new world. Tickets to secure. Airline reservations to make. Figuring out a way to pay for his $220 hotel room on Long Island. All because he qualified for the U.S. Open.

Warrick, an amateur from Valrico who plays at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, lived the stuff of dreams Tuesday, shooting 71-69 at Tampa's Old Memorial Golf Club to secure one of four spots from the sectional qualifier to next week's tournament at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y.

Greg Norman and John Huston, PGA Tour veterans, were other qualifiers. Norman finished one shot better, and Warrick and Huston were tied.

"I watched the Golf Channel a few times and they showed my name up there under Norman and Huston," Warrick said. "It's pretty neat."

Warrick, who attended Durant High, is a late bloomer. He said he's playing some of the best golf of his life. He won the Gulf South Conference tournament, finished third at the Division II South Region and last weekend was ninth at the Division II national event at Mission Inn.

Then he showed up at Old Memorial, having advanced through local qualifying in Destin with 69 a few weeks ago, confident about his chances.

"If I didn't think I could do it, I wouldn't have signed up for the local," he said. "I definitely thought I had a chance. I've been really playing well lately. I thought I could do it. I don't want to sound arrogant, but I'm not that surprised."

Warrick has not played in a PGA Tour event but has qualified for the U.S. Amateur, losing in the first round of match play in 2000. He has competed in no other big amateur tournaments. Now he'll be playing alongside Norman and Huston. And Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson and David Duval. "It's probably going to be hectic," he said, adding he hopes to employ a game plan that served him well Tuesday.

"Just concentrate on the shot I am hitting," he said. "That's all you can do. You start letting your mind wander, and it does nothing but hurt you. That's the thing that's been really strong about my game lately, the mental part."

TIGER IMPRESSED: Woods played a practice round at Bethpage Black last week, his first look at the U.S. Open venue.

"I have to say it's the hardest par-70 course I've ever seen," Woods said on his Web site (www.tigerwoods.com). Last year's Open course, Southern Hills, and the 1999 site, Pinehurst, also were par-70 layouts.

"Anyone who thinks the winning score will be in double digits (under par) is crazy," Woods said. "On a couple holes, you have to carry the ball 270 yards just to reach the fairway. Plus, the fairways are pretty narrow and the rough is about three inches. It's going to be a hell of a test. I had a hard time getting to the green from the rough."

25 YEARS LATER: On June 10, 1977, Al Geiberger became the first in PGA Tour history to shoot 59 in an official event, doing so at the Danny Thomas Memphis Classic. It is a number that has not been broken, despite huge advances in equipment. Only Chip Beck and David Duval have matched the number on the PGA Tour. Notah Begay and Doug Dunakey shot 59 in Buy.com Tour events, and Annika Sorenstam shot 59 last year on the LPGA Tour.

When Geiberger did it, he had one eagle, 11 birdies and six pars. He birdied three of his last four holes and needed just 23 putts.

"Half of me expects it to be broken at any time, the other half has kind of gotten used to it not being broken," said Geiberger, 64, who won 11 times on the PGA Tour and competes on the senior tour. "There are 18 holes, and you usually have to get 14 under (on a par 72) to get to 58. There aren't many holes left. You're very close to the edge. Somebody would have to have several eagles in there to have a few holes to play with."

LOCALLY: The Tampa Bay Classic needs volunteers for this year's tournament, Sept. 16-22 at the Westin Innisbrook Resort. When the tournament becomes the Chrysler Championship in 2003, preference will be given to volunteers who worked previously. Call (727) 942-5566 or e-mail tbclassic@aol.com for information.

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