04-02-2019, 06:12 AM
I walked the course Thu & Fri as a volunteer scorer. Gave me a new appreciation for how challenging it is. One of the players I walked with qualified for the US Open last year. Having played Shinnecock I asked him about it - he said it was by far the most challenging course he'd ever played. Another player is going to the first round of Q school next weekend. They were both over par that day.
I'm going to discount performance in a home tournament because the team knows that course like the back of its hand. That won't be the situation anywhere else this year. The men's team is playing better this spring but they aren't deep enough to make a good run at NCAAs. I think if they make it out of regionals that will be an accomplishment this year.
The women look like one of the top teams in the country and are far more consistent. Discount the results at Silverado - it's like evaluating the 90s Bulls playing a game without Jordan & Pippen. Lee and Valenzuela are among the top amateurs in the world, not just US college ranks. Not sure where they stand as far as graduating this year but if they aren't my guess is they come back.
I'm going to discount performance in a home tournament because the team knows that course like the back of its hand. That won't be the situation anywhere else this year. The men's team is playing better this spring but they aren't deep enough to make a good run at NCAAs. I think if they make it out of regionals that will be an accomplishment this year.
The women look like one of the top teams in the country and are far more consistent. Discount the results at Silverado - it's like evaluating the 90s Bulls playing a game without Jordan & Pippen. Lee and Valenzuela are among the top amateurs in the world, not just US college ranks. Not sure where they stand as far as graduating this year but if they aren't my guess is they come back.