Charles Rich
Keith Kinsel identified the handicap that eliminated him from the
largest competitive event of his career: Too many three-putts.
The Glendale resident had several of them Tuesday that contributed
to his downfall in the 102nd United States Amateur at Oakland Hills
Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Kinsel completed Tuesday's round of stroke play with a
seven-over-par 77 on the 6,618-yard North Course. The 1987 Crescenta
Valley High graduate finished tied with 18 other players at 194th
with a two-round score of 151.
"It's a difficult and very long course," Kinsel said. "I had a lot
of inconsistencies. I missed the fairway with the driver and I
basically had to pitch out. I three-putted three or four times."
The 33-year-old Kinsel, a 1991 USC graduate who qualified July 29
after he shot a 137 at Goose Creek Golf Course in Mira Loma, bogeyed
eight holes and parred nine times Tuesday. He entered Tuesday's round
after shooting a 74 Monday.
Kinsel, who participated in the 1998 U.S. Mid Amateur in Dayton,
Ohio, birdied the fifth hole.
"I was going good through the first nine holes and then I had a
rough time on the 10th and 11th holes," Kinsel said. "I bogeyed both
holes and I couldn't regroup.
"I felt I played a pretty good round Monday and the weather wasn't
great," said Kinsel, who is the three-time club champion at
Glendale-based Oakmont Country Club. "It's good to play in a
tournament like this and see the level of play. Hopefully, playing in
this tournament will give me more confidence going to other events."
Kinsel said he'll attempt to qualify for next year's event, which
will be played at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Penn.
Match play, featuring the top 64 players, will be held today
through Sunday. The 36-hole championship will be held Sunday.
