DENTON (6/2/06) In keeping his dream alive, North Texas men’s golf coach Jim Bob Jackson has a chance to qualify for the 2006 U.S. Open Golf Championship on Monday, June 5. Jackson will play two rounds at the Columbus, Ohio sectional qualifier with 21 spots up for grabs out a field of 144 competitors.
I'm excited about the chance to play in the sectional qualifying for the US Open. This makes my fourth time that I have made it to this point,” said Jackson. “The reason that I chose Columbus is that they have more spots available. The PGA Tour Memorial tournament will finish on Sunday and some of the tour players will be playing at this site on Monday. Generally they give out more spots at those sites”
Some of the names that will be competing for a spot in U.S. Open include two-time major champion John Daly, 1988 PGA Champion Jeff Sluman, 2004 U.S. Amateur Champion Ryan Moore, 2006 Byron Nelson winner Brett Wetterich, and Dallas native Trip Kuehne.
Jackson won the local qualifier in Houston in May with a score of 66 at The Club at Carlton Woods to advance to the sectional qualifier for the second straight year. Jackson will play two rounds of golf on Monday, starting at 9:00 a.m. from the Lakes Golf and Country Club and his second round will be at 2:30 p.m. from the Brookside Golf and Country Club.
“I like where my game is now and I believe I have a good shot of advancing,” Jackson said. “Everyone that has ever tried to qualify knows how hard it is to make it. I will have to play well and mistake free in order to advance but I'm really looking forward to Monday”.
