Here is the note 17-year-old Michael Schachner’s parents might have written to their son’s high school Spanish teacher.
Dear Michael’s Spanish teacher,
Please excuse our son from his junior year Spanish final exam today. Michael is spending the day on a 36-hole educational outing at Glenview’s North Shore Country Club gunning for the longest of long-shot dreams of qualifying for the U.S. Open.
Sincerely,
Michael’s parents
“And if I were to make the U.S. Open,” said Schachner, a junior at Libertyville High School, “I probably won’t be able to focus on any of my exams Tuesday, either.”
Unlike the other three major PGA tournaments, the U.S. Open has a blue-collar beauty that lets just about anyone have a shot to make the event held June 12-15 at Olympia Fields Country Club in south suburban Olympia Fields. And because Schachner and three other area amateurs played strong at just the right time, they will play 36 holes at Glenview’s North Shore Country Club on Monday with the same idea in mind: Relax, and, for crying out loud, stop thinking about Olympia Fields.
As a competitor, part of you knows it’s a long shot. Local qualifying started in May with 7,544 golfers, soon whittled down to 540. Add 213 golfers who were exempt from that round and you have 753 fellows playing for 82 U.S. Open spots.
It’s nearly impossible. At the Glenview qualifying round alone, 61 really good golfers are gunning for four precious spots. Last year, Schachner imploded in the local qualifying, and he finished tied for 21st in the high school state championship.
This year, there are Glenview qualifiers who have played golf for longer than Schachner has been alive.
Is there pressure because this is the big time–or no pressure because Schachner is a young unknown?
“No pressure, really,” said Schachner, who will spend his summer travelling to tournaments in six states. “I was in Miami this past weekend, and I hit the ball really well. And as I was hitting it, I started thinking, ‘This is not bad.’ And putting is my strength, and I was putting well and then I started thinking, ‘Hey, I think I can do this.’ That’s what makes it fun.”
And that’s why the U.S. Open is special.
“To think you can make the U.S. Open is hard to understand,” said Schachner, who won a two-hole playoff against voting-aged adults after shooting a 72 in local qualifying. “With it being so close just down the road, it’s like a dream. I can’t imagine what it would be like to play next to Tiger Woods and Ernie Els. It’s just hard to grasp.”
He tees off at 9:01 a.m. with his dad, Robert, as his caddy. His sister, mom and grandmothers will be there. When they’re done with exams, high school teammates and his girlfriend will jet over to see him tee off for the second 18 holes at 2:04 p.m.
What might it be like that evening?
“Can you imagine?” Schachner asked.
Others around the country
These four local amateurs aren’t the only ones dreaming of a tee time at the U.S. Open. Here’s a look at some other interesting people around the country trying to qualify at 13 sectionals:
– James Lee of Indio, Calif., and Brad Thompson of Las Vegas are both 16 years old and among the 78 golfers playing for four spots in Tarzana, Calif.
– Former Barrington resident Gary Hallberg has played in nine Opens, but none since 1999. He’s one of 29 playing for one spot in Littleton, Co. Also in Littleton, 57-year-old Earl Svenningsen is the oldest golfer attempting to qualify this year.
– Blackhawks TV announcer Dale Tallon, 52, also the head pro at Highland Park Country Club, will be competing at the Glenview sectional.
– Stewart Cink missed a putt on the last hole that would have put him in a playoff for the 2001 Open title. He is one of 101 playing for 20 spots in Columbus, Ohio.
– 1993 NCAA champion Todd Demsey is coming back from a back injury is one of 156 golfers aiming for 34 spots in Rockville, Md.
– – –
Three others playing for the fields of dreams
Andrew Price
Age: 21
Town: Lake Forest
His first golf swing: He was 6 years old when he started playing with his father.
His golfing life: The Lake Forest High School grad was a senior on the 1999 state golf champs and just finished his third year at the University of Kansas with two years of eligibility left. Kansas finished eighth in the Big 12 championship, and Price shot his team’s third-best score as Kansas finished 19th out of 27 teams at the NCAA regional tournament.
Previous U.S. Open attempt: Entered the local qualifying round last year and didn’t advance.
How he got here: He shot a personal-best 64 to win the local qualifying round at the Bartlett Hills Golf Course. “I just tried not to be nervous,” Price said. “I don’t have high hopes. I know I can do it if I just play solid. I don’t have to play great, just solid.”
How he’s spending this summer: Caddying at Sunset Ridge Country Club. “I’m still deciding if I want to try golf as my profession,” Price said. “I need that break-out summer performance. So I’m playing a lot too.”
If he makes the U.S. Open, he would: Go out with buddies to celebrate. Would he pick up the check? “No,” Price said, “because I’m not making any money yet.”
– – –
Mike Radek
Age: 21
Town: Chicago
His first golf swing: He was 7. “I started competing at 12. Both my parents are weekend golfers.”
His golfing life: A four-time Illinois State High School finalist at St. Ignatius, he just finished his junior year at the University of Missouri. Radek shot his team’s fourth-best score as Missouri finished 26th out of 27 schools at their NCAA regional tournament. Can he make it to Olympia Fields? “I think everyone would love to see some amateur make it,” Radek said. “I think they’d love it because they have someone just like them playing in the big time.”
Previous U.S. Open attempt: He’s tried three times before and reached the sectional as a 17-year-old. “That first time, I was just glad to be there. But this time, it’s different,” he said.
How he got here: Radek shot a 73 at the qualifying round in Sugar Grove.
How he’s spending this summer: “No job, just golf,” Radek said with no small amount of glee.
If he makes the U.S. Open, he would: Start practicing for the U.S. Open right away. With four spots available to 61 golfers, Radek isn’t wavering. “I like those odds. Anything can happen,” he said.
– – –
John Finnin
Age: 43
Town: Crete
His first golf swing: Finnin’s dad took him to a golf course on his 16th birthday and pulled out a new set of clubs as a gift. “I started playing 72 holes a day all the time.”
His golfing life: After attending and playing at Marian Catholic and the University of Miami, Finnin returned to Chicago golf as a pro, but got his amateur status back in 1995 because he couldn’t golf enough. Now married with three children, he’s played a steady string of amateur events and has shot the U.S. Open course at Olympia Fields at least 50 times. Does he think about the U.S. Open? “A lot. It’s a special opportunity. How can you not think about it, you know?”
Previous U.S. Open attempt: He’s tried three times and reached the qualifying round twice before.
How he got here: He shot a 69 in the local qualifying round at the Bartlett Hills Golf Course
How he’s spending this summer: Running his full-time carpet cleaning and janitorial business.
If he makes the U.S. Open, he would: Need to figure out who his caddy is going to be. “I already got 10 guys who want to caddy for me this week,” Finnin said. “So, my God, if I made it, I’m sure I’d get more calls: ‘Who’s caddying for you?'”
