Costa Mesa golfer Jake Knapp qualifies for the U.S. Open
The way golf instructor John Ortega describes Jake Knapp is the style Knapp showed at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier in Newport Beach on Monday.
“He plays with a lot of swag,” said Ortega, Knapp’s junior golf instructor at Costa Mesa Country Club, referring to his former student’s confidence. “He doesn’t play with any hold-back.”
Knapp, the UCLA junior who grew up in Costa Mesa and starred at Estancia High, lived up to those words as he tied for second and qualified for his first U.S. Open. He was among six who punched their ticket to Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., June 15-21.
Knapp shot seven-under-par 64 at Newport Beach Country Club to lead the field after 18 holes. He then finished even on the par-72 course at Big Canyon Country Club. He was one of six to qualify among a field of 112 players
“You know what’s on the line -- this is what you work for your entire life,” said Knapp, who had to win a playoff at U.S. Open local qualifying at Oak Creek in Irvine last month just to compete in Newport Beach. “You get a little hyped up. But luckily I’ve been in positions similar to this and I know how to handle it.”
Kevin Lucas of Folsom finished as medalist at -9 (68 at Big Canyon, 66 at Newport Beach), two strokes ahead of second-placers Knapp, Beau Hossler (Mission Viejo) and Jared Becher (Reno, Nev.). Brian Campbell of Irvine was fifth at -6. Alex Kim (Fullerton) won a playoff against Josh Anderson to grab the final qualifying spot.
Knapp, Hossler (Santa Margarita High) and Campbell (Mater Dei) were happy that each qualified, as the three are friends, having played against one another since before they were teens.
Ortega was among several in Knapp’s gallery who followed him around Big Canyon. Knapp’s father, Bob, and mother, Jennifer, were there, as was his grandfather, Gordon Bowley. Knapp’s brother, Ryan, was on the bag for his younger brother. Ryan caddies at Big Canyon, a course familiar to Ryan because he played for UC Irvine and the Anteaters use that course often.
“I got a few other requests [from other golfers to caddy] last minute, but no way I’m going to bail on him ever,” Ryan said of caddying for his brother. “We had a lot of fun out there today.”
Jake Knapp, an honorary member of Mesa Verde Country Club, was ecstatic to qualify for the U.S. Open. However, he was visibly angry after his round at Big Canyon when he turned in his scorecard. He had big drives throughout the day. He missed some chances to win the event, but he stayed in contention with great par saves on hole Nos. 4 and 6.
That helped him gain some momentum, and he birdied No. 8, after a sensational 25-foot putt. He bogeyed No. 9, his final hole, where all of his supporters cheered him on.
“It was awesome,” Knapp said of the support. “I couldn’t ask for a better crowd. I think I had the biggest gallery and the most important gallery by far.”
Knapp’s round at Newport Beach featured eight birdies to go with one bogey. Two years ago, Knapp shot a 61, one short of the course record at Newport Beach to win the U.S. Open local qualifier. But he failed to advance out of the sectional qualifier as he dealt with a shoulder problem.
“All the work he has put in finally came to the kind of fruition we were hoping for in previous years,” Ortega said. “But now it’s all the way there and we’re going to the U.S. Open. It’s going to be really cool.”
Fred Couples was expected to be a featured player in Monday’s event, but he withdrew because of a bad back.