U.S. Senior Open 2013

Originally Published on July 13, 2013 by ranchomurieta.com

​​

​QUALIFYING WEEK:

July 8, 2013: It was a week we'll remember always

​

Written by Carole Thames – What a week! Crazy temperatures, the excitement of the usual Rancho Murieta hometown Fourth of July and the anticipation of waiting to hear the news of “Yes, come to Omaha,” or “I am sorry, Mr. Thames, we just can’t tell you for sure yet.”

​

As you may know, we did some major research once we had made it to the first alternate position from Salinas after playing the qualifying round at Corral de Tierra. The gentleman from Fresno who was in the playoff with Don for first alternate was probably a bit flustered when Don mentioned on the first tee that this probably doesn’t mean much. Don was first alternate from his qualifying site last year and did not get in. Well, as it turned out, it meant something. The strength of field at the Salinas qualifier postioned us as the seventh alternate nationwide.  Trying to be patient, we waited until Friday, June 28, to make the call.  Staff at the USGA headquarters in New Jersey are very friendly and extremely patient ... thank God. Betsy, the gal in the championship department, informed us that she had already taken two alternates so we were now in fifth position and in a very good spot. After several calls on Monday and Tuesday, we finally got the call at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

​

Don had asked the staff to call us once we got to first position, as we thought it was highly unlikely that a PGA player over the age of 50 would win the Greenbriar this past weekend. We had decided on Tuesday that we would book the flights. So when he did get that call his first question was, “Am I in first position or are you telling me something else?”  The USGA official said, “Mr. Thames, we are asking if you would like to play in the U.S. Senior Open.” Since then I think Don’s feet have touched the ground just a few times.

​

Now we could make the announcement! No, we did not postpone the twilight golf league for some minuscule reason. This was exciting stuff! We tried to hang low key on the Fourth (thank you, Doug and Tammie Kirk). Friday was a big day and an even bigger night. The members of Rancho Murieta Country Club came out with a bang. The energy in the Terrace Lounge was fully charged and I heard it carried on into the 19th hole through the evening.

​

After two sessions of junior golf on Saturday morning, we were scrambling off to the airport. With conflicting emotions we boarded our flight heading to Omaha. Everyone on board was praying for the passengers of the flight that had just recently crashed at SFO. Flights were already being diverted into Sacramento. It is not often you see a double decker Singapore Airline taxing into terminal B. We finally arrived in Omaha just after midnight due to a plane malfunction on the ground in Dallas.

​

With a couple of hours rest, we were surprised to see that Omaha is not flat! Omaha Country Club, as it turns out, makes Serrano look like a prairie. It’s a beautiful course with a lovely “old school” clubhouse. With the help of longtime ex-Murietan Dan Cullen, we hooked up with a past member of the club who was also their club champion. Nick VanDrak stepped in and looped for Don today. Don and Nick hit it off right away and his course knowledge is beyond what we could have hoped for. We have decided that if Nick is up for it he will take the reins and hopefully we will be watching Don and him on NBC next weekend!

We had a great practice round today with Fred Funk and Esteban Toledo. Don and Esteban had some great conversations in Spanish. Esteban and Funk ham-and-egged it with the gallery through the round and at one point Esteban pulled a young girl, who appeared to have never swung a club, out on to the tee box to see if she could outdrive Fred. After her first two attempts made it about two yards, she finally connected on the third swing and walloped her drive about 60 yards. The three got along well and I think Fred, Esteban and their caddies were all taking pointers from the local guy, Don’s caddy, Nick.  A good time was had by all!

​

Besides the excitement of playing in the Open, Don’s stomach couldn’t wait to get to the legendary Omaha steak houses. After two nights of large cut prime ribs Don has enough protein in his system to last him through the weekend, however I think there may be even more beef in our near future. Ron Coy flew in tonight and joined us for dinner along with Dan Cullen. There were many Rancho Murieta golf stories with lots of laughs.

​

Tomorrow is another early day as we are set to tee off at 7 a.m. with Hale Irwin and Rocco Mediate. Keep sending all those good thoughts … we are hoping for good things this week!
 

Page 3