Cox makes Open cut, Semmler struggles at state

Cox, who had attempted to qualify for the United States' biggest golf tournament the previous four years, finally made the cut on his fifth try with a two-round total of 3-under, 141 at Lake Merced Country Club Monday.

Semmler, coming off an unexpected win at the Northern California tournament, finished near the bottom of the pack, shooting a 12-over 84 at the Santa Maria Country Club Tuesday, 14 shots behind the winner.

"I'm not sure it's completely sunk in," Cox said of getting the chance to play in his first U.S. Open, which begins Thursday at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego. "I'm pretty happy. It's pretty amazing."

Cox's pedigree suggests it would be only a matter of time before he qualified for a big tournament. He played in the World Junior Golf Cup at St. Andrews during the summer before his freshman year in high school. He had a stellar high school career before going to Stanford on a golf scholarship. Although he's struggled at times at Stanford, Cox is starting to get back to the form that had him one of the top junior golfer in the nation. He finished 43rd at the recently completed NCAA tournament as Stanford finished in second place as a team, one stroke behind UCLA.

"When you're not playing well for a little bit, there is some doubt," Cox said. "It is so tough to make it out there. It's hard not to (have doubt) sometimes. But at the same time, if you're realistic and work hard, it is out there for the taking."

While this will be Cox's first U.S. Open, it won't be the first time he'll be tested by U.S. Open conditions. The U.S. Open is considered to be the toughest test in golf. Courses are tricked out with monstrously deep rough, slim fairways and lightning-quick putting greens.

"I've played in quite a few U.S. Amateurs and those are kind of testing grounds for U.S. Opens," Cox said. "I've played quite a few tournaments with U.S. Open conditions. It's not going to be a birdie fest. It's more about survival.

"I'd love to make the cut and play 'til Sunday. I'm just going to have a lot of fun."

Semmler can dream about being where Cox is. He's off to a good start. Semmler surprised just about everyone -- including himself -- when he won the NorCal tournament to qualify for the state tournament. He drove down to Santa Maria Monday morning and got in a little practice.

"I felt good," Semmler said.

He felt even better when he started the 18-hole tournament with a birdie at No. 1 and followed with a par at No. 2 -- the exact same start he had at NorCals. Even his early stumbles were the same as the NorCal tournament when he bogeyed three holes in a row but rebounded to win. After his fast start Tuesday, Semmler bogeyed three holes in a row.

"I did the same thing at NorCal," Semmler said. "When I did it [Tuesday] I said, 'All right, you've done this before [and came back to win].'"

Then he double-bogeyed holes No. 6 and 7.

And followed that with four more bogeys in a row.

Needless to say, his chances at winning were gone.

"I didn't find my rhythm all day," Semmler said. "Greenwise, off the tee, my irons. I couldn't find anything [Tuesday]. [The course] was pretty difficult."

A California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rule states players may not play the course the week prior to the championship tournament. Players could walk the course the day before the tournament -- provided their coach was with them.

Semmler's coach couldn't make it. He said he did some research on the Internet and everything looked fairly straight forward.

Until he got on the course.

"There were some twists and turns that I didn't see and the wind was definitely a factor on the back nine.

"I wouldn't say I played great but I didn't play super bad," Semmler said. "I had, like, five putts lip out for pars. Every part of my game struggled [Tuesday]."