Jay Potter has no delusions that he can compete week in and week out with the best golfers in the world.
He spends more time shuttling his three children to their sporting activities, and coaching them, than he spends on golf practice ranges and putting greens.
“Between soccer, baseball and a 5-year-old who’s going to play everything, you can either be with your kids a lot and coach them,” Potter said, “or you can be out here all the time practicing.”
With 54 great holes of golf spanning two tournaments, the Harrison resident could find himself in the same group as Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.
“I don’t presume to be anything other than just a weekend golfer,” Potter said. “But I’m 41, and why not? What if?”
Potter is among more than 30 golfers with Chattanooga-area ties who will compete — or already have competed — in a U.S. Open local qualifier between now and next Thursday. He will attempt to qualify for a sectional Thursday at Ridgeway Country Club in Memphis.
Some, such as the college golfers, have a legitimate opportunity to make it beyond the local event. And a couple, most likely the professionals, have a shot to play at Pebble Beach with stellar rounds in sectional qualifying.
They all have the same dream.
“It goes back to being a kid on a putting green at dark and saying to your buddies, ‘This putt is to win the U.S. Open,'” said Dalton amateur David Noll Jr., who was the medalist in a qualifier Monday at Planterra Ridge Golf Club in Peachtree City, Ga. “It’s trying to live and fulfill a lifelong dream.
Area participants in upcoming U.S. Open local qualifiersWednesday at Holston Hills Country Club, KnoxvilleHenrik Simonsen, The Honors CourseMichael Morrison, Baylor School graduateDavis Bunn, UTC signeeBryce Ledford, ChattanoogaGerald Burrell, ClevelandThomas Smith, ChattanoogaRyan Thornton, ChattanoogaThursday at Ridgeway Country Club, MemphisSteven Fox, UTC freshmanDerek Rende, ChattanoogaJay Potter, ChattanoogaJ.T. Clendenin, UTC seniorMonday at Pinewild Country Club, Pinehurst, N.C.Luke List, Baylor School graduateMonday at Idle Hour Country Club, Lexington, Ky.Jonathan Hodge, UTC graduate
“And playing Pebble Beach would just be icing on the cake.”
UTC incoming freshman Davis Bunn said he hasn’t used his imagination quite like that in a couple years. He has a casual approach to his first USGA qualifier.
“I don’t have too many expectations,” Bunn said. “If I make it even to sectional, then awesome.”
The Honors Course head professional Henrik Simonsen has attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open “eight or nine times” but has yet to qualify.
“It’s different from the Masters, because it’s an Open and anybody can play,” Simonsen said. “It’s getting to your dream. I’ve played tour events, but I’ve never played in a major.
“It’s the one anybody (with the right handicap) can get in.”
Even Potter, who grew up playing recreationally at Brainerd Golf Course. He continued playing in college and entered the Marines in 1991, which led to his big golf break.
While stationed in Japan, Potter made the Marine Corps golf team and then the Inter-Service team with the top four golfers from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. They traveled around the globe and played teams from other countries.
“It was a pretty sweet gig,” said Potter, who works at Arnold Air Force Base. “We’d do that for a few months, then go back to our unit. But that was a pretty sweet three months.”
Potter’s recent golf highlights include winning the Rutherford County Open and playing in the 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links championship. He’s attempted to qualify for U.S. Mid-Amateurs but fallen short.
This is his first shot at the U.S. Open.
“Why not?” Potter said. “I’m going to go up there and see what happens. I have no illusions of buying a ticket to California.
“But I don’t rule it out.”