St. Louisan Langley ties for best amateur at U.S. Open
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Updated: Mon 6/21/2010 10:51 pm
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PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Scott Langley went out with a bang. The humble 21-year- old St. Louis amateur wrapped up a remarkable week at the U.S. Open by shooting par 71 on Sunday and tying Russell Henley as the low amateur.
The lefthander finished the championship at 8-over-par 292, not bad for a "range rat" from Kirkwood's Family Golf Center. Asked what the high point was of a national championship week in which he competed with the best players in the world, Langley couldn't pick just one.
"I had a lot of highs," said Langley, who was on the leader board Friday when he shot a 69. "It's hard to get upset looking out at that view. I made one double bogey (on Saturday), that was probably the lowest point. I just kind of made a silly error there. But there weren't many low points; it was a great week."
His performance included an eagle Saturday on No. 6 and just 21 putts in his round Sunday, the low putting round of the championship. Again, he got off to a bit of a rough start Sunday, bogeying Nos. 4 and 5 to fall back to 10 over. But Langley made birdies at Nos. 7, 14 and 15 to even out his card.
"It was a better day," he said. "I started out a little slow, made a couple of nice birdies on the back nine and played solid down the stretch. I think it was a little easier just because the conditions were a little easier today. The wind was down early and (the) greens (were) a little smoother, going out early just made it a little easier."
The University of Illinois senior made a 15-footer downhill for his birdie at No. 7. He landed a wedge five feet from the cup for a birdie at No. 14 and hit another good wedge for a circle at No. 15. Along the way, he was battling Georgia senior Henley for the low amateur distinction, but the amiable Langley never looked at it that way. He was rooting for Henley, whom he knows, to have a good round.
Asked if he was paying attention to the only other amateur who made the cut, Langley said, "Not too much. I know Russell is playing great and that's something that will take care of itself. I just wanted to enjoy my last day at Pebble Beach. It's been such a fun week."
The week included a night at In-N-Out Burger for Langley on the eve of his final round.
"It's not exactly Ruth's Chris," he said with a laugh. "But we had a blast."
Langley's large St. Louis posse was gathered around the 18th green Sunday as he putted out to complete his U.S. Open experience. It was a rousing moment he never will forget.
"Everybody was so supportive this week, it was overwhelming," said Langley, a Parkway South High grad. "Right there on the last green, that was pretty special."
He will pick up where he left off with his summer, playing in amateur events nationally and locally.
But the past few weeks, which included an NCAA Tournament individual title, a U.S. Open sectional win and a tie for 16th at the U.S. Open (which paid $108,458 to the pros who shared that spot), should go a long way toward helping him accomplish his ultimate goal — making the 2011 U.S. Walker Cup team.
"We haven't talked specifically about that, but I know I have to play well," he said. "They're not going to pick me if I don't play well, and they shouldn't. I know this helps. It's still a ways down the road, but it's nice to know I'm at least on the radar."
