Open season

Victoria Sun

Tuesday, May 23, 2000 | 9:31 a.m.

One round.

No cuts.

No excuses.

But for the seven golfers who advanced to the sectional qualifier for the 2000 U.S. Open on Monday, nabbing one of the coveted spots proved easier than getting John Daly to ease up on the six-packs.

Those seven distinguished themselves from a field of 97 by taming the 7,233-yard, par-72 course at the Legacy in a local qualifier.

In another qualifier at Black Mountain Country Club, 34 entrants competed for three qualifying spots. Manuel Merizalde (with a round of 66), Brady Exber (70) and Christopher Shields (71) earned those slots.

At Legacy, with virtually no wind to contend with, the players blistered the course. Five who carded a 69 were forced to play off for the final four slots. The scores of 69 eclipsed the previous record low of 71.

For Australia native Adam Wilcox, shooting a low score was easier than the turmoil he overcame to get into the tournament.

Playing in his first competitive round since Dec. 21, Wilcox shot a 67, a stroke behind former UNLV standout Chris Berry, to advance to the 36-hole sectional qualifier that will be held at 12 sites in two weeks. Rounding out the top three was Chicago resident Brian Payne, whose 68 allowed him to avoid the playoff.

Wilcox's return to golf was a dissertation in perseverance.

Wilcox, who turns 27 today, sustained a broken arm when three men mugged him after he walked away from an automated teller machine in February.

"I thought I had no chance," he said of the incident. "I thought I'd get stabbed or shot."

This was Wilcox's first year on the Australasian PGA Tour, which runs from October to March, and the mugging prevented him from playing the last two months of the season.

When he felt like he was ready to compete again, he signed up to play in the local qualifier at the Legacy instead of another location because he enjoys visiting Las Vegas.

Unbeknownst to him, his trip almost turned into a nightmare.

Wilcox made the 20-hour journey from Sydney, Australia, to Las Vegas last Wednesday. He said he called the United States Golf Association before he left to make sure it had received his entry form and someone wrongly told him everything was OK.

When he checked in with tournament officials last Friday, they said his name was not on the entry list.

"They weren't going to let me play," he said. "I thought, 'I've come all this way for nothing.' "

Wilcox pleaded his case and finally, the wrong was righted.

"I was very lucky," he sighed. "They said they believed me and would let me in after someone else cancelled."

Stuart Reid, president of the Southern Nevada Golf Association, agreed that Wilcox wasn't at fault.

"Based on the facts, it appears the USGA made an error so we let him play," Reid said. "Because he travelled from Australia to play in the event and the factors were such that the USGA was wrong, we had to give him a chance."

Now that Wilcox has made it to the next stage, he hopes it will be a springboard for bigger things.

"It would mean everything to me to make it to the U.S. Open," he said. "I idolize people like Tiger Woods, even though he is younger than me, and Australian Greg Norman.

"In Australia, it's hard to establish yourself as a player unless you spend time playing in the U.S."

Monday, Payne and Berry were in the same group that teed off early in the morning, allowing them to get a break from the temperatures that soared into the 100s in the afternoon.

"I birdied the last hole which proved to be fateful," Payne said. "I noticed Chris was doing well so it put the pressure on me to play better.

"I'm going to play two Canadian events to help me get ready for the sectionals. The competition only gets better from here. I just have to hope that I play good rounds at the right time."

The four golfers who parred the playoff hole to make it to the sectionals are Green Valley High School junior Andrew Scott, Las Vegas resident John Riegger, Bob Casper and former UNLV great Warren Schutte. Rebel senior Jeremy Anderson bogeyed the playoff hole to become the first alternate should any of the others withdraw.

Victoria Sun covers golf for the Sun. Reach her at 259-4078 or victoria@lasvegassun.com.