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Crick's U.S. Open debut delayed by bad weather
One of the top golfers in McCook history will see his U.S. Open dream postponed for a few hours Thursday, June 13.
Brandon Crick was scheduled to debut at the U.S. national champion meet early Thursday afternoon in the 113th U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Penn. But heavy rains early Thursday morning forced tournament officials to suspend play.
Crick, a 2006 McCook High School graduate, qualified for his first major golf tournament in a U.S. Open sectional qualifying meet at Memphis, Tenn. Monday, June 3. The 25-year-old former Bison and University of Nebraska standout was scheduled to tee off Thursday at 1:57 p.m. CDT at Merion's East Course. But heavy rain soaked the Merion course, altering the tournament schedule.
According to information on the United States Golf Association's U.S. Open web site: www.usopen.com, first-round play was suspended at 7:36 a.m. CDT Thursday, with 53 of the 156 U.S. Open competitors on the course.
After the downpour stopped and the weather cleared, play resumed shortly after 11 a.m. CDT Thursday.
USGA OFFICIALS revamped the remainder of Thursday's opening-round U.S. Open tee times. Crick and his playing partners, 23-year-old Zack Fischer and 24-year-old Ryan Sullivan -- all U.S. Open rookies -- are now set to take their first swings in the national championship meet Thursday at 5:27 p.m. CDT.
It's probably a foregone conclusion that Crick's threesome won't finish their opening 18 holes before sunset Thursday. Any golfers unable to finish Thursday's round will probably be up early Friday, June 14, to finish, then return again for Friday's 18-hole second round.
Weather may also cause more delays Friday at the U.S. Open site.
After completion of the first two rounds, the low 60 scores and ties will qualify for the final 36 holes Saturday and Sunday, June 15-16. Crick will be looking to make the cut and cash the biggest paycheck of his young professional golf career.
Live television coverage of the first two rounds of the U.S. Open are scheduled Thursday and Friday on ESPN and NBC.
U.S. Open scoring updates are available on the USGA's U.S. Open web site: www.usopen.com.
CRICK IS A three-time Nebraska high school Class B State High School Tournament medalist during his Bison career. He played collegiate golf at Gongaza for two years, then transferred to Nebraska where he was one of the top golfers for the Huskers during the 2009-10 campaigns.
Crick has competed in pro mini-tour events in Arizona and the Dakota Tour in the last few years, and he also cashed a check in the Cox Classic in Omaha in 2010. But the U.S. Open is the first time the former Bison has had the opportunity to play pro golf on the national stage.
Crick's family members, including parents Jeff and Beth Crick of McCook, traveled to Pennsylvania this week to cheer on McCook's most famous golfer.