Career round for Merritt leads to leap into swimming pool
Jul 19, 2008
08:19PM
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By Ryan Sergeant, rsergeant@qconline.com
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Mike Merritt shot a career round on Saturday in the
first round of the Palmer Hills Amateur in And afterward, Merritt took a celebratory leap into his
pool -- clothes and all -- at his Cascade, "She rode around in the cart with me and was pretty
bored," he said. "I told her halfway through that if dad kept
playing this well, I was going to do a cannonball in the pool." Despite a bogey on the 18th hole, Merritt fired a
5-under-par 67 to take a one stroke lead over St. Ambrose's Dusty Drenth. Both players admitted to knowing the course like
the backs of their hand. Drenth, fresh off his Short Hills
Amateur win last month, fired an opening round 4-under-par 68 that featured
five birdies and just one bogey -- the par-4 No. 3 hole. With girlfriend
Christine Turner caddying, Drenth carried the
momentum and carried on his recent stint of great golf stretching into last
month. "I played consistent," said Drenth. "(Last month's) Short Hills win showed that
I can win and it helps it come easier. I'm not as nervous." Apart from the win at Short Hills, Drenth
played two solid rounds in the John Deere Classic pre-qualifier and then the
JDC Monday 4-spotter. Drenth shot a 1-over-par 73
at Pinnacle Country Club to get into the 4-spotter, where he added another
73. Drenth enjoyed a four-shot advantage
over the rest of the field going into the final round at Short Hills in late
June. Now Drenth will see what he can do coming
from behind. "The course overall is in pretty good shape and
course knowledge is big for me," he said. "(Todayt),
I'm just going to go out like I did Saturday and just attack." As far as Merritt is concerned, he just hopes to keep
his putter going strong like he had on Saturday. "I hit the ball solid, and for the first time all
year, I made some putts," he said. "I feel so comfortable at |