Sep 3, 2013-- Stephen Jaeger hits at the UTC practice facility.
Former Baylor School and University of Georgia golfer Harris English chips to the second green during Thursday's first round of the Masters.Stephan Jaeger sure knows how to bounce back from a rough weekend.
The former Baylor School and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga golfer clinched one of the two U.S. Open spots awarded Monday at Hawks Ridge in Ball Ground, Ga., by shooting 67 and 70 for a 7-under-par total that tied him for first with Duke University golfer Alex Smalley. There were 36 golfers vying at Ball Ground for the coveted invitations, and it was among 10 sites across the country holding U.S. Open qualifying sectionals.
"There wasn't really any pressure, honestly, because I was going to be fine if I missed it and fine if I made it," Jaeger said by phone Monday night as he made his way back up Interstate 75 to Chattanooga. "I've got places to play, and I would have played the Web event in Wichita and been just fine with it, but we're going to have to change some plans around.
"That's a good problem to have."
Jaeger drove to Ball Ground north of Atlanta after finishing tied for 60th in Sunday's Web.com Tour event in Raleigh, N.C. He was in the top five through two rounds.
"I played terrible this weekend, to be honest with you, but that's the funny thing about golf," Jaeger said. "I just didn't have it, and I worked on some stuff this morning before I played. The first couple of holes were a little shaky, but the longer I played, the more comfortable I got."
The 117th U.S. Open will take place next week in Erin Hills, Wis., marking the first time the Badger State has hosted the event. Jaeger played at Erin Hills in the 2011 U.S. Amateur.
Jaeger won't be the only Baylor alumnus in this year's U.S. Open, with Harris English also earning a spot Monday by finishing tied for second to Wisconsin native Steve Stricker at the qualifying sectional in Memphis. English shot a 65 at Ridgeway Country Club and a 68 at Germantown Country Club for a 9-under 133.
English, who tied for 37th in last year's U.S. Open in Oakmont, Pa., was among 108 golfers competing in Memphis for nine spots in this year's field.
"We'll definitely hang out up there," Jaeger said. "I haven't really hung out with him since his wedding, but we're going to have a good time."
Said English: "I'm really pumped for Stephan. He's playing some great golf."
Luke List almost gave Baylor three alums in the U.S. Open, but his 6-under 138 in Columbus, Ohio, was just two shots shy of qualifying. There were 122 competing for 14 spots in Columbus, and among the qualifiers there were 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley, 2009 British Open champ Stewart Cink and 2015 NCAA champion and U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau.
There were 902 golfers competing for 72 spots in Monday's sectionals. The 117th U.S. Open will contain a field of 156.
Each member of that field will be scheduled to play 18 holes per day, unlike the 36 that were required Monday.
"It's just really exhausting," Jaeger said. "The first round went by pretty quick. We were done around 12 or 12:15, but the front nine in the second round is the hardest thing. I made a couple of birdies on the back nine, and adrenaline kind of took over, so I didn't feel tired, but once I sat down and signed my scorecard, that's when I realized I was really tired.
"I'm glad it is 36, though, because it gives you the chance to get some shots back or whatever, and it brings out the better golfers in the groups that play."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.