By Staff
TEE SHOT Joel Myrick, a member of the Meridian Community College golf team, takes a swing in the tee box on the 10th hole of Northwood Country Club on Monday. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Aug. 14, 2003
Joel Myrick is packing his golf bag and heading North.
The sophomore golfer at Meridian Community College qualified for the U.S. Amateur on Aug. 5 notching a 75-70 at the Dancing Rabbit Golf Course near Philadelphia.
Myrick will leave with his mom and dad, Debi and Bobby, on Friday for Pittsburgh to take part in the 312-player tournament at the Oakmont Country Club.
The amateur tournament begins this Monday and runs through Aug. 24, with the first two days will be the stroke-play qualifying part of the tournament. The field will be whittled down to 64 golfers, who will then compete in match play.
Myrick and his parents will arrive in Pittsburgh on Friday. If he makes it to the last three days of the tournament he will be joined by his girlfriend Leah Chancellor and his brothers, Ben and Daniel.
He will be able to practice at the Oakmont golf course with the other competitors on Saturday and Sunday. The two days on the course prior to the tournament will be a big help for the golfer who tied for second place at the MACJC/Region XXIII tournament.
Myrick had to make a late push to earn his spot at the U.S. Amateur.
In the two-day qualifying tournament (Aug. 4-5) at Dancing Rabbit, Myrick said his best shot came on the par-5, 530-yard No. 17 hole on the second day.
After what he called an "OK" tee shot, Myrick used a 3-wood to knock the ball to within 20 feet of the hole from about 250 yards out.
Myrick birdied that hole, then sank a 10-foot putt to par hole 18.