Jimison Steals Medalist Honors With Course Record 65

Washington, Mich. – Isaac Jimison amassed eight birdies Tuesday en route to a course-record 65 that earned him medalist honors at the 2002 U.S. Amateur Public Links.

Jimison’s 68-65 two-day total of 133 put him three strokes ahead of runner-up Eric Jorgensen at 68-68 – 136.

Jimison, 21, from Orangevale, Calif., is a commercial roofer by trade.

Playing in his first USGA championship at the 7,001-yard par 72 Orchards Golf Club, the unreserved Jimison said, “I’m more focused on this tournament than any I’ve played before because here I actually care. I’m not here to have fun; I’m here to try not to be a roofer is what I’m here to do.”

Jimison’s path to this championship is decidedly different than many in the field.

“I’ve been roofing since I was 16, that’s how I paid for my junior golf tournaments,” said Jimison. “Instead of car money, I had to make tournament money. Even now I don’t play more than once a week because I can’t afford it and I work 40 hours a week. Golf costs too much money for me to play.”

On becoming the medalist in his first national championship, he added: “I don’t care really because it doesn’t matter; you still have to go through everybody to win. The only advantage that I see is you might make it on TV.”

Jimison plays golf in flip-flop sandals, which he has done since he was 17 years old.

“I make a ton of birdies and like to have fun on the golf course," he said. "I’d probably play barefoot if I could. But golf shoes give me blisters, and in my flip-flops I’m just more relaxed.”

Jorgensen made five birdies on his way to his second straight 4-under-par 68 for a two-day total of 8-under 136. Jorgensen, 22, from Grandville, Mich., who opened up with three straight birdies in calm and moist conditions, seized on to the momentum gained from winning the North & South Amateur earlier in the month.

“I started out pretty much on fire," said Jorgensen. "Fresh off one of the top amateur events in the country (North & South), to play well in match play there gives me a lot of confidence coming into this week."

Just prior to Jimison’s course-record 65, Jorgensen, a senior at Michigan State, said, “Being medalist would be an honor, but being medalist doesn’t take you to Augusta. I’m after the hardware.”

Through 35 of 36 holes of stroke play, first-round leader Hunter Mahan was on track to tie the APL record qualifying score of 132. Mahan, 20, of McKinney, Texas, was 4 under in his second round and 10 under for the championship before he took a triple-bogey 7 on the 413-yard par-4 18th by hitting two balls into the greenside pond.

“I played 35 great holes exactly the way I wanted to play them," said Mahan, who finished with a 71 for a 7-under two-day total 137. "I’m not going to dwell on one bad hole and sit and think about it all night. The fact is, I’m going into match play tomorrow and there are a lot of guys who aren’t.”

Defending champion Chez Reavie, 20, of Mesa, Ariz., rallied with a 68 to finish 73-68 – 141 for the stroke play portion of the championship.

“The wind just wasn’t blowing today," said Reavie. "I was hitting the same shots as I did yesterday, but instead of short or long they were landing by the hole today. I played great; I just didn’t make a lot of putts.”

Following the completion of stroke play, a playoff was held with 14 players competing for the final 4 spots. The playoff lasted three holes, with Ryan McClintock of Monmouth, Ill., Charlie Smith of Valencia, Calif., Tele Wightman of Chicopee, Mass., and Nick Becker of Boise, Idaho as the players who advanced.

The players finished at 2-over 146, which was the cut line for the field of 156. As the 64th seed, Wightman will meet medalist Jimison, the first seed, in the first match Wednesday.

Notable competitors in the field who failed to qualify for match play included 2000 APL Champion D.J. Trahan (74-76—150), 1994 APL Champion Guy Yamamoto (76-77—153) and 2000 U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion Greg Puga (83-77—160).

Note: Sacramento won the U.S. APL Team Championship with team members Jimison (133) and J.J. Jakovac, 19, of Napa, Calif. who shot 138. Their combined 271 earned the team, from the qualifying site of Haggin Oaks G.C., custody of the Warren G. Harding Cup for one year.

The top 64 players in the field will compete in the first round of stroke play Wednesday, hoping to make it to the round of 32. The championship continues through Saturday’s 36-hole final, with the winner earning an invitation to play in the next Masters tournament.

The Amateur Public Links is open to amateur golfers who are bona fide public course players and have USGA Handicap Indexes not exceeding 8.4.

The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Story written by David Normoyle, USGA.

Tuesday’s Results

Washington, Mich. – Results of Tuesday’s second round of stroke play at the 2002 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, played at the par-72, 7,001-yard Orchards Club.

Jimison, Isaac, Orangevale, Calif., 68-65--133
Jorgensen, Eric, Grandville, Mich., 68-68--136
Hill, Alan, Spring Branch, Texas, 68-69--137
Williamson, Lee, Crawfordsville, Ind., 71-66--137
Mahan, Hunter, McKinney, Texas, 66-71--137
Tolan, Derek, Highands Ranch, Colo., 68-69--137
Wanner, Brent, Mashpee, Mass., 69-69--138
Jakovac, J J, Napa, Calif., 69-69--138
Stockton, Brady, San Ramon, Calif., 72-66--138
Choi, Jay, Cerritos, Calif., 67-71--138
Green, Danny, Jackson, Tenn., 69-70--139
Spensky, Burke, Huntington, W.Va., 68-71--139
Spagnolo, Jim, Ft Worth, Texas, 73-67--140
Finnin, John, Crete, Ill., 68-72--140
Letzig, Michael, Richmond, Mo., 73-67--140
Lindstrom, Jon, Denver, Colo., 73-67--140
Smith, Justin, Franklin, Pa., 74-66--140
Zihala, Billy, Little Rock, Ark., 70-70--140
Liaw, Henry, Rowland Heights, Calif., 71-70--141
Reavie, Chez, Phoenix, Ariz., 73-68--141
Snedeker, Haymes, Oxford, Miss., 71-70--141
Lubahn, Casey, East Lansing, Mich., 70-71--141
Harris, Jason, Clemmons, N.C., 72-70--142
Stroud, Chris, Groves, Texas, 73-69--142
Moore, Ryan, Puyallup, Wash., 72-70--142
Fowler, Wren, Thomson, Ga., 72-70--142
Walters, Justin, Raleigh, N.C., 73-69--142
Lound, Geoff, Australia, 74-68--142
Widerstedt, Bjorn, Sweden, 69-73--142
Lieber, John, San Diego, Calif., 72-70--142
Hendrickson, Keith, Syosset, N.Y., 72-70--142
Tassistro, Kevin, Rosemont, Ill., 69-74--143
Baldwin, Chase, Plant City, Fla., 75-68--143
Kane, Timothy, Simsbury, Conn., 71-72--143
Fuentes, Crispin, El Paso, Texas, 74-69--143
Grusczynski, Neal, West Allis, Wis., 71-72--143
Clegg, Garrett, Bountiful, Utah, 72-71--143
Kopf, Greg, Bay Harbor Island, Fla., 75-68—143
Warrick, Kevin, Valrico, Fla., 72-71--143
Huss, Corey, Woodstock, Ga., 70-73--143
Alcala, Gabe, Bastrop, Texas, 73-70--143
Stephan, Luke, Hoffman Estates, Ill., 71-72--143
Anderson, Matt, Minneapolis, Minn., 72-72--144
Scott, Drew, Henderson, Nev., 74-70--144
Atkinson, Brian, Buffalo Grove, Ill., 71-73--144
Dukelow, Richard, Chicago, Ill., 72-72--144
Cassidy, John, Yelm, Wash., 71-73--144
Uberuaga, Greg, San Diego, Calif., 76-68--144
Mechereffe, Fernando, Brazil, 72-72--144
Cunningham, Russ, Dewitt, Mich., 74-70--144
Jones, Brett, Paducah, Ky., 69-76--145
Schones, John II, Tucson, Ariz., 72-73--145
Miller, Mike, Knoxville, Tenn., 76-69--145
Hughes, Brian, Portland, Ore., 74-71--145
Wall, J J, San Antonio, Texas, 69-76--145
Lohmeyer, Steve, Dayton, Ohio, 72-73--145
Green, Josh, Toms River, N.J., 78-67--145
Grodzinsky, Jake, Cornville, Ariz., 75-70--145
Watkins, Kurt, Chandler, Ariz., 73-72--145
Jennings, Justin, Lunenburg, Mass., 77-68--145
Wightman, Tele, Chicopee, Mass., 76-70--146
Smith, Charlie, Valencia, Calif., 74-72--146
Becker, Nick, Boise, Idaho, 74-72--146
McClintock, Ryan, Monmouth, Ill., 72-74--146

Failed To Qualify

Chandler, Jeff, Kenton, Tenn., 74-72--146
Sullivan, Mike, Plano, Texas, 75-71--146
Street, Duncan, Bonita, Calif., 76-70--146
Clapp, Dean, Parker, Colo., 71-75--146
Murphy, Timothy, Greensburg, Pa., 71-75--146
Nazareth, Savio, Orlando, Fla., 74-72--146
Elliott, Tim, Baltimore, Md., 72-74--146
Anderson, Dan, San Diego, Calif., 76-70--146
Halla, Thomas, Lannon, Wis., 74-72--146
McPhail, Eric, Milton, Mass., 73-73--146
Bognar, Mike, Seven Hills, Ohio, 71-76--147
Bailey, Nathan, Laurel, Mont., 75-72—147
Goett, Harry III, Union, N.J., 74-73--147
Karmazin, Kelly, Omaha, Neb., 75-72--147
Babusik, Frank, Ft Lauderdale, Fla., 77-70--147
Giles, Thomas, Marlboro, Mass., 74-73--147
Sharp, Tommy, Salt Lake City, Utah, 77-70--147
Messer, Kevin, Missouri City, Texas, 73-74--147
Sul, Robert, Torrance, Calif., 72-75--147
Beers, Alan, Midlothian, Va., 75-72--147
Ausherman, Derek, Middletown, Md., 74-73--147
Gillespie, Gavin, Lexington, S.C., 76-71--147
Kunick, Timothy, Bismarck, N.D., 72-75--147
Godfrey, Robert, Clemson, S.C., 77-70--147
Trudeau, Julien, Scottsdale, Ariz., 75-72--147
Lawrence, Brad, Richmond, Va., 72-75--147
Sestilio, Mark, Punta Gorda, Fla., 72-75--147
Bergstedt, Russel III, Phoenix, Ariz., 72-75--147
McIntosh, Brad, Houston, Texas, 74-74--148
Moore, Eric, Owasso, Okla., 77-71--148
Wingerd, William, Baltimore, Md., 78-70--148
Deacon, Todd, Corvallis, Ore., 75-73--148
Posey, Ryan, Dallas, Texas, 73-75--148
Moore, Stuart, Gainesville, Ga., 74-74--148
Groom, Steve, Raytown, Mo., 77-71--148
Nixon, Miles, London, Ohio, 77-71--148
Estorga, Anthony, Fort Worth, Texas, 76-72--148
Van Cleave, Matt, Maryville, Mo., 75-74--149
Clemens, Chris, Beech Grove, Ind., 74-75--149
Thornburg, Brian, Albuquerque, N.M., 76-73--149
Chadwell, Jeffrey, Worthington, Ohio, 77-72--149
Fuller, James, Dryden, Mich., 73-77--150
Kimi, Richard, Hilo, Hawaii, 76-74--150
Campbell, Chris, Louisville, Ky., 76-74--150
Kurisu, Jay, Wailuku Maui, Hawaii, 77-73--150
Weiss, Tim, Mill Valley, Calif., 77-73--150
Urban, Daniel Jr, Grand Rapids, Mich., 77-73--150
Erickson, Ross, Olympia, Wash., 73-77--150
Main, Luke, Australia, 74-76--150
Monfrey, Frank, Wasilla, Alaska, 74-76—150
Trahan, D J, Inman, S.C., 74-76--150
Wilder, Brad, Park Hills, Ky., 77-74--151
Hebert, Roger II, Dunedin, Fla., 77-74--151
McIntosh, Ross, Zimbabwe, 80-71--151
Acker, Frank, Las Vegas, Nev., 75-76--151
Fisher, Lloyd, Grand Rapids, Mich., 80-71--151
Sinksen, Danny, Sioux Falls, S.D., 77-74--151
Waggoner, Timothy, Spokane, Wash., 75-77--152
Zubkus, John, Nashville, Tenn., 80-72--152
Claxton, Will, Swainsboro, Ga., 81-71--152
Chang, Jerry, Westlake Village, Calif., 76-76--152
Paduano, Mike, Shrewsbury, N.J., 76-76--152
Sirois, Michael, Berlin, Conn., 76-76--152
Lewis, Andrew, Winston-Salem, N.C., 80-72--152
Stewart, Terrance, Greensboro, N.C., 80-73--153
Sibayan, Shannon, Kapaa, Hawaii, 75-78--153
Yamamoto, Guy, Waipahu, Hawaii, 76-77--153
Harris, Ian, Walled Lake, Mich., 80-73--153
Kowalski, Darius, Newington, Conn., 80-73--153
Williamson, Adam, Peru, Maine, 70-83--153
Smith, Jay, Plymouth, Mich., 75-78--153
Alberty, Kevin, Strongsville, Ohio, 81-72--153
O'Neal, Tim, St Augustine, Fla., 74-80--154
Burns, Robert Jr, San Mateo, Calif., 76-78--154
Vahlberg, Bryan, Norman, Okla., 72-82--154
Foss, Mark, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, 78-77--155
Wade, Ken, Kennewick, Wash., 75-80--155
O'Keefe, Christopher, Massapequa, N.Y., 77-79--156
Douglas, Greg, Cooper, Texas, 80-76--156
Pattullo, Mark, Saline, Mich., 77-79--156
Thompson, Johnny, Ormond Beach, Fla., 80-76--156
Rivard, Chris, Manchester, N.H., 73-83--156
Johnson, J T, Sparta, Wis., 78-78--156
O'Connor, Kevin, East Lyme, Conn., 80-77--157
Piliaris, Bill, Cincinnati, Ohio, 81-76--157
Bourgeois, Steven, Paulina, La., 81-76--157
Koschke, Josh, Westminster, Colo., 79-80--159
Akau, Christian, Waipahu, Hawaii, 81-78--159
Puga, Greg, Los Angeles, Calif., 83-77--160
Beckworth, Mark, Jacksonville, Fla., 82-81--163
Badeaux, Andy, Missouri City, Texas, 80-85--165
Williams, David, Corvallis, Ore., 87-81--168