June 4, 2008

Washington, D.C. - The numbers certainly what Georgetown senior men's golfer Tim Hager (Ivyland, Pa./Council Rock North) will remember, but the experience of being one step away from competing in the United States Men's Golf Open is something he will.

Advancing through the qualifying round and just playing in the sectional round of qualifying, which was held on Monday, June 2 at the Members Club at Four Streams in Beallsville, Md., wasn't unexpected for Hager, who has been one of the Hoyas top golfers the last three years, but it was a chance to get close to a dream most golfers have when they start playing.

"It was definitely a confidence builder," Hager said over the phone from his apartment in the District. "I felt pretty confident going into the local qualifier (shooting a one-under par 71 on May 13) and was confident that I could make it to the sectional round. I expected to be playing as much as any golfer there, but the chance to play in the U.S. Open is something all of us have as kids."

Hager was one of 40 golfers at this sectional, one of many played throughout the country. There were only two spots from this group that would advance to the 2008 U.S. Open, which will be held at the Torrey Pines Golf Club in San Diego, Calif. from June 12-15. He shot a four-over par 75 in the first round and then followed that up with a seven-over par 78 to finish at 11-over par 153. David Hearn of Canada posted rounds of even-par 71 and five-under par 66 to win the sectional at five-under par 137, two strokes ahead of Brian Bergstol from Pennsylvania, who carded rounds of even-par 71 and three-under par 68.

Hager played with Chip Sullivan, a native of Troutville, Va. who won last year's PGA Professional National Championship, and Robert Hornibrook, an assistant golf pro from Sweedsboro, N.J.

"It was a really good experience playing with those guys," Hager said. "Chip's a guy who has made some cuts on the PGA Tour and has won the Maryland Open a bunch of times. It was cool to play 36 holes with guys like those. You definitely learn some things."

While Four Streams is Georgetown's home course, Hager did admit that it was a different feeling stepping to the tee on Monday. "You get some nerves when you're teeing off and you know that a chance to play in the U.S. Open is on the line," he admitted. "It was a long day. It was 36 holes. You're thinking of the chance to play in the U.S. Open, so you have to keep that out of your mind and just play hole by hole."

Hager was six strokes off the lead after his first round 75, but kept confident and thought he could still have a shot to make a run at one of the two available spots with a good second round. "I had three bad putts in the middle of my first round and that put me in a bad spot," Hager said. "I thought I had an outside chance, but for all intents, I knew I was just playing at that point.

His second round score of 78 was indicative of a tough second round for all golfers, as only three in the field posted scores below 70. "The course played completely different than we've played it in the past," Hager said. "They played it as long as possible. The wind was up and the greens were really fast. Everything was really firm, so it was tough to hold a green with a nine- or an eight-iron. The conditions were tough, but that's good for a tournament like this. You want the course to be as tough possible."

Just the same, it was a day that Hager will still remember fondly, as Hoya teammate Pat Sherry (Brookeville, Md./Landon) caddied for him. "It was good to share the day with Pat, and to play in the group I had," Hager said. "I certainly would have preferred my scores to be better, but it was a good experience."

Next up for Hager will be the Pennsylvania State Amateur and he, along with several teammates, will aim to qualify for the United States Amateur in late July.