Storylines For 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship

Average age of field: 23.58

Age Breakdown:

Under 18: 11

18-24: 111

25-29: 11

30-39: 13

40-49: 6

50 and over: 4

Oldest player in the field: Danny Arvanitis, Manchester, N.H., 53 years, 10 months, 4 days

Youngest player in the field: Seung Yul Noh, Korea, 16 years, 1 month, 10 days

Countries respresented (9): United States of America, Argentina, Brazil, Ireland, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Peoples Republic of China, Philippines.

USGA champions in field (3): Alan Hill (2005 USGA State Team Championship, Texas); Sihwan Kim (2004 U.S. Junior Amateur); Casey Watabu (2006 U.S. Amateur Public Links)

Number of players competing in their first USGA championship: 71

Number of players competing in their first U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship: 107

NCAA Division I Third-Team All-Americans: Derek Fathauer (Louisville); Colt Knost (Southern Methodist); Lucas Lee (UCLA)

NCAA Division I Honorable-Mention All-Americans: Aaron Goldberg (San Diego State); Corey Nagy (University of North Carolina Charlotte); Matt Savage (Florida State); Tim Streng (Western Illinois); Dan Woltman (Wisconsin)

Illinois players in field: Philip Arouca (Wilmette); Eric Burch (Rockford); Chris Eddy (Belleville); Mark Gardiner (Mascoutah); Curt Minkel (Pekin); Jon Schram (Buffalo Grove); Tim Streng (Arlington Heights)

Brothers in field: Cody and Brent Paladino (Kensington, Conn.)

Interesting notes on 2007 contestants:

Philip Arouca, Wilmette, Ill. – Double bogeyed his first hole in qualifying and played his next 17 holes in four under to shoot 68. Finished qualifier in Philadelphia, Pa., at 142 to place second. qualifier.

Daniel Arvanitis, Manchester, N.H. – At the 2003 USGA Men’s State Team Championship at Charles River Country Club, he played with his son Matt. He won the New Hampshire State Amateur in 2001 and was runner-up in 2003. He is a four-time winner of the New Hampshire Mid-Amateur.

Kevin Aylwin, New Smyrna Beach, Fla. – Is allergic to milk and anything that has milk in it.

Chris Baker, Brownstown, Ind. – Made a hole in one on the 17th hole during his first round of sectional qualifying and was the medalist by two shots at Purgatory Golf Course in Noblesville, Ind.

Tirrel Baymon, Phoenix, Ariz. – Works at The First Tee of Phoenix and is a graduate of Florida A&M University (2004). Part of his job at TFT is teaching youngsters life skills that can relate to golf.

Mark Bielawski, West Allis, Wis. – Has a black belt in taekwondo.  He also owns the 18-hole scoring record at Marquette University with a 63. In 2002, he was the Wisconsin Junior Player of the Year.

Milko Brito, Miami, Fla. – Was named teacher of the year in 2005. Brito is a Miami-Dade County public school teacher.

Phillip Bryan, Mustang, Okla. – Claims to be an expert trout fisherman and outdoors aficionado. He also says his most memorable golf moment was when he played with 1982 U.S. Open champion Tom Watson. In 2007, he received the University of Oklahoma Service Award.

Eric Burch, Rockford, Ill. – Recipient of the 2004 Professional Clubmakers Society “Top Shop” Award for excellence relating to custom clubmaking.

Zack Byrd, Calabash, N.C. – Named NCAA Academic All-American in 2007 and was the Big South Freshman of the Year in 2005 for Coastal Carolina University. One of Byrd’s superstitions is that he always carries at least one pink tee.

Ron Coleman, Erie, Pa. – Works as a juvenile counselor at the Edmund L. Thomas Adolescent Center in Erie (Pa.) County.

Gerard Connolly, New York, N.Y. – The Irish-born Connolly, 36, was late arriving to Cantigny for good reason. His wife, Martina, delivered the couple’s first child (Philip) on July 6. Connolly is competing in his first USGA championship.

Russ Cunningham, DeWitt, Mich. – Is president of the Lansing Golf Association. He has won the Michigan Mid-Amateur three times, the 2004 Michigan Publinx Match Play and the Golf Association of Michigan Stroke Play in 2002.

Samuel Cyr, Kihei, Hawaii – Is a two-time first-team NAIA All-America (2006 and 2007) for Point Loma Nazarene College in San Diego, Calif., and was one of eight college-age players to represent the USA in the inaugural Friendship Cup against the Peoples Republic of China in 2006.

Federico Damus, Argentina – Would like to follow in the footsteps of countryman Angel Cabrera in winning a USGA title this summer. Was a third-team NCAA Division III All-America in 2006-07 for the University of West Florida. Steve Fell, his golf coach at West Florida, will serve as his caddie.

Jeff Dennis, Jacksonville, Fla. – Won the 2006 Florida State Amateur. The 20-year-old was the University of North Florida Athlete of the Year and the Atlantic Sun Conference Freshman of the Year.

Nicholas Engen, McFarland, Wis. – Has made the Dean’s list every semester while at the University of Wisconsin, where he will be a senior.

David Farnam, Kent, Wash. – Met his wife, Lisa, at the West Seattle Golf Course, which was the site of the 1953 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, in 1983 and the two were married two years later. Farnam started playing golf by walking several miles to the local public course and made money to pay for his green fees by finding and selling golf balls he found. He also once beat PGA Tour player and Seattle native Fred Couples for $10 in 1976.

Patrick Flynn, Westport, Conn. – Took eight years off from competitive golf and just started playing again four months ago. Also was a former American Junior Golf Association All-American.

Kevin Foley, Somerville, N.J. – Was named the 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year (Penn State) and was the 2006 Metropolitan Golf Association Amateur runner-up. He also is the youngest of eight children and advanced to the round of 16 at the 2006 APL.

Mark Gardiner, Mascoutah, Ill. – Once qualified for the Professional Bowlers Tour Baby Ruth Classic in 2003 in O’Fallon, Ill., and competed against 154 of the best bowlers in the world. Has rolled five perfect 300 games. Also is a youth hockey and baseball coach.

Nick Geyer, Albuquerque, N.M. – Once shot a course-record 59 at Buena Ventura Golf Course in Ventura, Calif. The University of New Mexico golfer was named to the Mountain West Conference All-Academic squad in 2006 and ’07.

Daniel Grinewicz, Westlake, Ohio – Is the head women’s golf coach at Tiffin University, which is his alma mater (graduated in 2006).

Mark Harrell, Hazlehurst, Ga. – Qualified for the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont and missed the cut by one stroke when eventual champion Angel Cabrera birdied his 36th hole (No. 9 on the course) to take the cut down from plus-11 to plus-10.

Brad Hastings, Easton, Md. – Shot 10-under-par 134 in sectional qualifying at Black Rock Golf Course in Hagerstown, Md., but needed to eagle the first playoff hole to continue a playoff and then birdied the third playoff hole to win the final spot. Is a reinstated amateur (2005) who once played the Canadian Tour and was inducted into the Coastal Carolina University Athletic Hall of Fame (2005).

Chris Hawley, Walpole, Mass. – Received the Hobey Baker Character Award for ice hockey in 2006 while playing in high school. His most memorable golf experience came when both he and his brother, Tyler, each recorded a hole-in-one in the same round.

Rory Hie, Los Angeles, Calif. – Can speak Bahasa, Indonesia’s official language, when talking to his parents. Hie was born in Indonesia, but has since become a U.S. citizen. The 2005 APL quarterfinalist will be a sophomore at the University of Southern California in the fall.

Alan Hill, San Antonio, Texas – Is competing in his 22nd USGA championship. In 2001, he advanced to the semifinals of the APL on his home course, Pecan Valley (lost to eventual winner Chez Reavie) and in 2005, he helped Texas win the USGA Men’s State Team Championship. He also was a semifinalist at the 2003 U.S. Mid-Amateur, losing to eventual winner Nathan Smith.

Tyler Hitchcock, Orlando, Fla. – As an eighth grader, Hitchcock played on The First Academy High School golf team and on the day of the district tournament, two-time U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart’s plane went down. His classmate was Chelsea Stewart, Payne’s daughter, and the golf team had the honor of visiting the Stewart’s home prior to his funeral in Orlando and paying their respects. During the visit, the team experienced Stewart’s extensive memorabilia collection and his indoor putting course, which included an inspirational letter from his father on the game. The team also visited the trophy room and got to grasp the U.S. Open trophy he had won the previous June at Pinehurst. Hitchcock also has steel pins in his hips as a result of surgery caused by a condition known as slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

Sihwan Kim, Buena Park, Calif. – Won the 2004 U.S. Junior at the age of 15 (second youngest behind Tiger Woods) and has never missed a match-play cut in seven USGA championships. He was a quarterfinalist at the 2006 APL and 2006 U.S. Junior, losing to eventual winner Philip Francis in 20 holes.

Daniel Im, Fullerton, Calif. – Was a quarterfinalist at the 2006 APL and won the 2006 Pacific-10 Conference championship at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club. Im says that win was the biggest golf accomplishment of his life.

Vincent Johnson, Portland, Ore. – Won the 2007 PGA Minority Golf Championship (Independent Division) at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Recently graduated from Oregon State, but will play his fourth and final season on the golf team while starting graduate school toward a Masters of Business Administration (MBA). He also plays the piano and has performed at weddings.

Brian Kim, Yorba Linda, Calif. – At the Bensenville, Ill., sectional qualifier, he holed out for eagle at the first hole and made a double eagle at the 14 th hole to shoot 67 and qualify for his first APL. He competed in the 2005 U.S. Junior at Longmeadow (Mass.) C.C. and advanced to the round of 16

Danny Lee, New Zealand – Advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2006 U.S. Junior, where he lost to eventual runner-up Richard Lee (no relation). He recorded a hole-in-one during 2007 U.S. Open sectional qualifying at Bear Creek in Murrieta, Calif., but he failed to advance to play at Oakmont. Was the runner-up at the 2007 Dogwood Invitational to Webb Simpson, and he won the 2007 New Zealand Amateur.

Dalton Melnyk, Atlanta, Ga. – Is the son of 1969 U.S. Amateur champion and two-time USA Walker Cupper Steve Melynk. The 27-year-old is an account executive for a major clothing apparel company. He says he could write a book about his interesting and funny experiences. Says he tied his father for the first time on the golf course when he was 14.

Curtis Minkel, Pekin, Ill. – Finally qualified for an APL after trying to qualify 12 times. He birdied his last hole at the Peoria, Ill., sectional qualifier to earn medalist honors. He didn’t start playing competitive golf until his mid-20s. He won the 2002 Illinois Mid-Amateur.

Layne Morita, Kapaa, Hawaii – Witnessed Phil Mickelson shoot a 59 as a standard bearer at the Grand Slam of Golf in Kauai. Morita’s father passed away before he was born, so it was his grandfather who influenced him greatly when it came to golf.

Seung Yul Noh, Korea – Is not only the youngest player in the 2007 APL field, but he has also won the Korean Amateur and Korean Junior Amateur titles.

Cody Paladino, Kensington, Conn. – Has a deep interest in quantum and theoretical physics and  is currently reading “Time Travel in Einstein’s Universe.” His older brother, Brent, also has qualified for this championship. Cody will be a freshman at Baylor University in the fall.

Nathan Pistacchio, Fresno, Calif. – Once played Royal Links Golf Course with Tiger Woods when he was 13 and played Cypress Point with noted instructor Butch Harmon.

Ryan Posey, Dallas, Texas – Qualified for the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot Golf Club’s West Course.

Christian Raynor, Kennesaw, Ga. – Advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1994 U.S. Amateur, where he lost to eventual runner-up Trip Kuehne, 2 down. He also played with Tiger Woods at the 1995 Western Amateur. The 1995 Porter Cup runner-up played briefly as a professional, but got his amateur status back in 2001.

Andrew Rauscher, River Falls, Wis. – Qualified in home town of River Falls, with Travis Meyer, who was a high school teammate and a good friend. Has won six college tournaments while at the University of Southern Illinois.

Raymond Sheedy IV, Keymar, Md. – Just finished as the runner-up at the prestigious North and South Amateur at Pinehurst. He graduated magne cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and was the Atlantic-10 Conference Male Athlete of the Year. He also has won the Maryland Amateur Stroke Play.

Michael Sims, Clemson, S.C. – Severely sprained his left elbow, separated his shoulder and cut his chin when falling off a skateboard head first this past February. He had just watched the movie “Lords of Dogtown” and thought he had picked up enough skills through osmosis to try some of the tricks going down his brother’s 45-degree angle driveway at full speed. He couldn’t pick up a golf club until May, but managed to qualify for the APL in Greenville, S.C., by making a birdie on the first playoff hole to garner the final spot. He carded a 5-under-par 67 in the second round to get into the playoff.

Toney Soerries, Spring, Texas – Is kind of a daredevil at heart. He claims to have skydived, bungee cord jumped and walked on fire. He just got his amateur status back in June of 2007. He won the 1996 and ’97 Indiana Open and some smaller mini-tour events.

Jesse Speirs, Bangor, Maine – Is a three-time Maine State Junior champion, and he won the 2002 New England Junior.

Jonathon Spikes, Danville, Ark. – Says that his first professional instructor was 1955 U.S. Open champion Jack Fleck. Spikes was also the valedictorian of his high school class. He received a full academic scholarship to attend Arkansas Tech University.

Nathan Stamey, Greensboro, N.C. – Won the 2003 North and South Junior title at Pinehurst and recently finished third at the North Carolina Amateur.

Jeff Sullivan, Fairfield, Ohio – Had epilepsy as a young child and was not allowed to play contact sports because of it. So Sullivan gravitated toward golf. This past spring, Sullivan became the first player at Campbellsville University in more than 20 years to qualify for the NAIA National Championship, where the tied for 21st out of 144 competitors.

Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch, Colo. – Qualified for the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park (Black Course) as a 16-year-old.

Arvo Voip, Magalia, Calif. – Was the last player to file an entry for the 2007 U.S. Open, getting in 15 seconds before the close of entries. Voip was the medalist at his local qualifier and advanced to sectional qualifying in Murrieta, Calif.

Philip Watkins, New Zealand – Was the runner-up at the 2007 Tennessee Open, shooting rounds of 67-70-69 (7 under). The 2007 Tennessee State graduate shot a 62 in the 2005 National Minority Championship at Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Joshua Werland, Columbus, Texas – Got into the field as the first alternate from the San Antonio, Texas, qualifier when Jonathan Mathias had to withdraw three days prior to the championship due to an Air Force commitment. He was a first-team NCAA Division III All-America in 2005 at Texas Lutheran University, and a second-team selection in 2006.

Peter Williamson, Hanover, N.H. – Creates snow golf courses in his yard during the winter months.

Daniel Woltman, Beaver Dam, Wis. – Won the 2006 Wisconsin State Amateur and shared medalist honors at the 2007 NCAA Division I Central Regional at Rich Harvest Farms in the Chicago area.

Travis Woodford, Glenville, W.Va. – Is a budget analyst for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and his brother Justin, is a secret service agent. Woodford got into the championship as a first alternate from his qualifying site.

Information compiled by USGA staff writer David Shefter. E-mail him at dshefter@usga.org.