The talk of the golf world much of the week was the way the United States Golf Association handled the rules question involving Dustin Johnson in the final round of the U.S. Open on Sunday. Here in central Maine, a few pros agreed that the USGA made the right decision in ultimately assessing Johnson a one-stroke penalty, but that it handled the situation poorly.
“When I was in New York, I worked for an official who did Ryder Cup matches. He would say, ‘Mike, we’ve got to get it right,'” Mike Dugas, the pro at JW Parks Golf Course in Pittsfield, said. “Having said that, we’re talking what, seven holes? I don’t know why it took so long.”
To recap, here’s what happened Sunday: When taking a practice stroke before a putt on the fifth green, Johnson noticed his ball move slightly. Johnson brought over a rules official, who initially told Johnson there would be no penalty. As Johnson prepared to tee off at the 12th hole, he was questioned by Jeff Hall, the USGA’s managing director of rules and competition. Hall informed Johnson, who held a slim lead at the time, that officials would defer the ruling until after the round and a penalty stroke could be imposed.
“(The) USGA handled it like an amateur. The fact they went out of their way to tell DJ (Johnson) they were reviewing it was horrid,” said Ross McGee, a Lawrence High School grad who now works as a pro in Florida. “Lucky DJ handled it like a pro and didn’t let it affect the outcome of his play.”
On Monday, the USGA issued an apology for the way it handled the situation. The penalty turned out to be moot when Johnson won the tournament easily.
Waterville Country Club pro Don Roberts said he doesn’t mind using replay to get the call right, but just as it is in its use in other sports, replay in golf has become time-consuming. Furthermore, a delayed decision could have had bigger ramifications.
“When TV is involved it really changes things. The walking official did not see the ball move and takes the word of the player. Then the TV video is shown and now they want to review the situation. What do you think would have happened if Dustin Johnson had refused to sign his card because he 100 percent felt that he did not cause the ball to move? That would have been interesting,” Roberts said. “You want to get things right at that level. But I bet they rethink the time it took to rule. It is like NCAA basketball now. Sometimes the TV replay makes the games last too long.”
Dugas said he was at a junior tournament with his son, Eric, and did not see the situation unfold live. Dugas agreed that replay can take too long.
“For me, I’ve never been a huge fan of being able to review it on TV and wait that long,” Dugas said.
• • •
Mainers enjoyed some success at the New England high school golf championship, played Wednesday at Bretwood Golf Course in Keene, New Hampshire.
Eric Dugas, who will be a senior at Maine Central Institute in the fall, tied for second place at 73, three strokes behind winner Mark Turner of St. John’s Prep (Danvers, Massachusetts). Dugas’ older brother, Gavin, was the New England champion last year.
After struggling with putting in recent rounds, Eric Dugas spent an hour and a half on the practice green Tuesday, his father, Mike Dugas, said.
“(Eric) played very solid. The Maine contingent played very well,” Mike Dugas said.
Dugas only three-putted twice in his round, he said, and hit 14 of 18 greens.
“My ball striking was on point, pretty much,” Eric Dugas said.
Logan Tompson of Mattanawcook Academy shot 74 to finish in a tie for sixth place. Dylan Burton of Messalonskee and Cameron Cox of Mt. Ararat were among a large group of players tied for 19th place at 77. Cape Elizabeth’s Ryan Collins tied for 23rd at 78. Tyler Walker (Lake Region) and Kyle Lamson (Mt. Desert Island) finished at 81. Messalonskee’s Billy Rollins and Brandon Donovan (St. Dominic) both shot 82. Ryan Dee (Houlton), Cole Daniels (Old Town) and Nick Mazurek (Oceanside) each shot 84.
In the girls tournament, Bailey Plourde of Lincoln Academy shot 74 to tie for fifth place, three strokes behind winner Angela Gavin of Agawam (Massachusetts) High School. Erin Holmes (Greely) tied took 10th place at 77. Lauren Shonewolf (Cape Elizabeth) shot 80, Elizabeth Lacagnata (Scarborough) shot 82.
Other Maine participants were Janelle Bryant of St. Dominic (84), Jordan LaPlume of Thornton Academy (91), Stephanie Rodrigue of Lewiston (97) and Markella Gammatoni of St. Dominic (101).
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Registration is open for the 14th annual Shawn Walsh Memorial Golf Classic. The tournament is July 18 at Martindale Country Club in Auburn. The tournament is held in memory of Walsh, the former University of Maine men’s ice hockey coach who led the Black Bears to national championships in 1993 and 1999. Walsh died in 2001 after a battle with cancer. The tournament is held to support the Maine men’s ice hockey program.
To register, visit www.shawnwalshgolf.org. On July 18, registration begins at 8:15 a.m., with a shotgun start at 9:30. The banquet and auction will begin at 3 p.m.
• • •
The last of three qualifying tournaments for the Maine Amateur Championship was held Thursday at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono. Among the 14 players qualifying for the Maine Am on Thursday was recent Messalonskee graduate Dylan Burton, who shot a 76 to finish one stoke behind medalist Ralph Michaud of Presque Isle.
In all, 249 golfers competed for 76 spots in the three qualifying tournaments. Along with Thursday’s play at Penobscot Valley, qualifying tourneys were held at Poland Springs Country Club and Biddeford-Saco Country Club.
The Maine Am will be played at York Golf and Tennis Club, July 12-14.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
<URL destination=””>tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com
</URL>Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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