Houstonian and Clear Thinkers favorite Steve Elkington apparently found a U.S. Open qualifier this year that allowed the competitors to wear spikes on their shoes. Elk fired a 36 hole score of 137 (64-73) to earn one of the 16 U.S. Open qualifying spots on Monday at the Colonial Country Club in Memphis, only the second time since 1999 that Elkington has qualified for the Open. 72 players were already exempt for the Open and Elkington nabbed one of the additional 83 spots that were up for grabs in sectional qualifying at 13 courses in the U.S., England and Japan on Monday. The Open will be held for a record eighth time next week at Oakmont, where Geoff Ogilvy will attempt to defend the title that he won last year at Winged Foot.
Speaking of local golf, the venerable Texas State Amateur Championship begins on Thursday and runs through Sunday at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, one of the best tracts in the Houston region. The 144-player field will be cut to the low 54 and ties after Friday’s second round. Former winners of the Texas State Am includes such noteworthy PGA Tour pros as Ben Crenshaw, Bruce Lietzke, Scott Verplank, Mark Brooks, Charles Coody and Bob Estes.