Looking forward to some home cookin’
August 25, 2014
As acknowledged by the USGA at last week's Media Day, Big Canyon Country Club and its members have gone over the top in preparing for the upcoming U.S. Senior Amateur, set to be held Sept. 13-18 at the SCGA member club in Newport Beach. The club's support of the upcoming Championship has been outstanding, with preparations starting as far back as five years ago and hundreds of thousands of dollars being raised to support the event. The course is already in fantastic shape, and the members are geared up for what should be a great week of golf. But there was a clear message at Wednesday's media day, one last candle the club was hoping would be put on the cake. They wanted a member in the field.
Their wish came true Monday, as club member Don DuBois qualified for the event. He was one of seven Big Canyon members to participate in the SCGA-run qualifier at La Jolla Country Club, and advanced to the Championship after shooting a round of 1-over-par 73 at La Jolla. DuBois made it through by one stroke.
"It's a great feeling," said DuBois. "It was a little stressful today, the course played tough, but it'll be a lot of fun to play in a USGA event on my home course."
For DuBois, the Senior Amateur will be his 12th USGA event. The Newport Beach resident has played in multiple U.S. Juniors, U.S. Opens, and U.S. Mid-Ams. In fact, DuBois will actually tee it up prior to the Senior Amateur in this year's U.S. Mid-Am Championship.
"Hopefully I'll make match play at the Mid-Am, so we'll see when I get back and if I have time to play a few practice rounds. I'll either be tuned up or worn out!" said DuBois. "But I've played that course already so many times. I know every blade of grass out there. It'll definitely be an advantage for me. And it'll be fun to see how everyone else plays it. There are truly some great players in the field."
Big Canyon has hosted a number of USGA qualifiers and SCGA Championships, and just last year was a host site for U.S. Open Sectional qualifying. The tournament-tested layout will certainly provide a challenge for the 156 competitors.
"The course can be every bit as tough as the USGA wants it to be," said DuBois. "And if the greens firm up, the USGA will be very happy. The greens can be treacherous."
Other SCGA members to advance out of the La Jolla qualifier include two-time U.S. Senior Amateur winner Kemp Richardson, Keith Whitehead of Temecula and Mike Davis of Laguna Niguel. Southern California also hosted a qualifier Monday at North Ranch CC, in which five more SoCal golfers advanced to the Big Canyon event. Those five included former CGA Senior Amateur winner Mark Nickeas, Jim Seymour, former SCGA Mid-Am Champ John McClure, Michael Turner and Mel Collins Jr. Also, former SCGA Senior Amateur Champions Jeff Burda and David Delich will also be in the Championship field, having qualified earlier this month at other sites outside of Southern California.
Stay tuned to scga.org through the event for exclusive coverage of the Championship.