Can Van Sickle make the cut at the Open?

[Benny B]

Looks like Mike - along with the eight others who finished yesterday - is getting the day off (his second round tees off tomorrow (Sat) at 7:11a).

Not really sure if this is an advantage or not to have nearly 46 hours off between rounds, not to mention he's likely to be playing 36 tomorrow if he makes the cut.

[Brewtown Andy]

Play has been suspended for the night. 

MVS is T-72 at +6, and the cut is at +5 right now.

[Eye]

Running a baseball tourney this weekend, which is why started thread. Definitely a shot it sounds like if not only 74, but who knows, maybe a little better than that possible today.

[Archies Bat]

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/phil-mickelson-makes-memory-mike-van-sickle-1

[VegasWarrior77]

Gorman: Van Sickle lives dream at U.S. Open
http://triblive.com/sports/kevingorman/10644700-74/sickle-van-open

BY KEVIN GORMAN  | Thursday, June 16, 2016, 10:30 p.m.

Mike Van Sickle stepped to the No. 1 tee box Thursday morning, a Pittsburgh kid finally getting to realize one of his lifelong dreams.

Van Sickle, a Pine-Richland graduate who lives in Stowe Township, was introduced as a member of the 156-player field for the 116th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.

"It's probably the most emotional thing that's ever happened to me in my golf career, to be at Oakmont, to be announced at the U.S. Open," Van Sickle, 29, said. "You just can't describe the excitement that you feel in that kind of moment.

"Actually, I can. You feel so excited that you pound 3-iron and hook the crap out of it."

So Van Sickle's slow-motion moment was stopped by a needle scratching the record. He bogeyed Nos. 1, 4, 8 and 9 and double-bogeyed No. 5, falling to 7-over.

But he is here, erasing the devastation of not qualifying for the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

What a year it has been for Pine-Richland, which saw alums Meghan Klingenberg win the FIFA Women's World Cup and Neil Walker help the Pirates play in a third consecutive National League wild-card game last season.

Problem was, it didn't just rain on Van Sickle's parade, it poured.

The first round of U.S. Open was a washout. The storm that forced the first stoppage was a welcome reprieve for Van Sickle, who birdied No. 13 when play resumed 90 minutes later.

Then came his highlight moment. On No. 14, he let Nick Hardy and Tom Hoge hit their tee shots and waited patiently for the green to clear. Van Sickle pulled out his driver and landed one on the par-4, 358-yard green.

"That was pretty cool," Van Sickle said. "I hit it so good and even let out a little yell. I was pretty pumped about that one. That was a really cool moment."

It was one Van Sickle shared with his parents, Gary and Betsy, who followed in the gallery.

Betsy realized it when she parked at Pittsburgh Mills on Wednesday morning.

"It really didn't sink in that he was in the U.S. Open until I saw all the cars," she said. "I started crying and said, 'Oh my God, this is real.' "

Gary, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated, said he normally wouldn't walk the course for 18 holes on a Thursday unless he was writing a feature story on a top player.

Gary made an exception for his son, playing in his first major after battling shoulder problems.

Yet he watched Mike play from the perspective of a 35-year PGA Tour veteran who has covered all but two U.S. Opens since 1981.

"It's always nice to get recognition in your hometown," Gary said, "but he's here to do business and make the cut."

Mike Van Sickle was careful to keep his focus despite spotting his former Pine-Richland golf coach, Gary Torso, and high school teammate Vince Smith.

Yet Van Sickle couldn't help but laugh when one of his groomsmen, Doug Stadler, made a snarky comment about his loud pants on the No. 2 green.

Mostly, Van Sickle smiled and tipped his cap to gallery applause. The momentum he gained with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14, however, ended with a second stoppage at 12:08 p.m.

"You can't afford yourself the luxury of trying to take it in because you have to be so dialed in and focused to succeed at what you're doing out there," said Van Sickle, who buried a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 16. "As much as I would have loved to look at my surroundings and wave to people while I'm walking the fairway, you can't lose your train of focus or things could go sideways pretty quick."

After teeing off at 6:56 a.m., Van Sickle finished just before the horn at 3:51 p.m. that stopped play. It took almost nine hours, but Van Sickle was one of nine golfers to complete the first round, coming in at 6-over 76.

"It was a great opportunity to see where I stand versus a lot of the competition, from evaluating my game versus other players," Van Sickle said. "I proved I can certainly hit it with those guys."

The U.S. Open isn't about competing against other players as much as it is the golf course.

Oakmont got the better of him in the first round, but Van Sickle is happy to smile, tip his cap and take another swing.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.

[Eye]

Thanks much Vegas.

[Vegasbaby]

Gorman: Van Sickle lives dream at U.S. Open
http://triblive.com/sports/kevingorman/10644700-74/sickle-van-open

BY KEVIN GORMAN  | Thursday, June 16, 2016, 10:30 p.m.

Mike Van Sickle stepped to the No. 1 tee box Thursday morning, a Pittsburgh kid finally getting to realize one of his lifelong dreams.

Van Sickle, a Pine-Richland graduate who lives in Stowe Township, was introduced as a member of the 156-player field for the 116th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.

"It's probably the most emotional thing that's ever happened to me in my golf career, to be at Oakmont, to be announced at the U.S. Open," Van Sickle, 29, said. "You just can't describe the excitement that you feel in that kind of moment.

"Actually, I can. You feel so excited that you pound 3-iron and hook the crap out of it."

So Van Sickle's slow-motion moment was stopped by a needle scratching the record. He bogeyed Nos. 1, 4, 8 and 9 and double-bogeyed No. 5, falling to 7-over.

But he is here, erasing the devastation of not qualifying for the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

What a year it has been for Pine-Richland, which saw alums Meghan Klingenberg win the FIFA Women's World Cup and Neil Walker help the Pirates play in a third consecutive National League wild-card game last season.

Problem was, it didn't just rain on Van Sickle's parade, it poured.

The first round of U.S. Open was a washout. The storm that forced the first stoppage was a welcome reprieve for Van Sickle, who birdied No. 13 when play resumed 90 minutes later.

Then came his highlight moment. On No. 14, he let Nick Hardy and Tom Hoge hit their tee shots and waited patiently for the green to clear. Van Sickle pulled out his driver and landed one on the par-4, 358-yard green.

"That was pretty cool," Van Sickle said. "I hit it so good and even let out a little yell. I was pretty pumped about that one. That was a really cool moment."

It was one Van Sickle shared with his parents, Gary and Betsy, who followed in the gallery.

Betsy realized it when she parked at Pittsburgh Mills on Wednesday morning.

"It really didn't sink in that he was in the U.S. Open until I saw all the cars," she said. "I started crying and said, 'Oh my God, this is real.' "

Gary, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated, said he normally wouldn't walk the course for 18 holes on a Thursday unless he was writing a feature story on a top player.

Gary made an exception for his son, playing in his first major after battling shoulder problems.

Yet he watched Mike play from the perspective of a 35-year PGA Tour veteran who has covered all but two U.S. Opens since 1981.

"It's always nice to get recognition in your hometown," Gary said, "but he's here to do business and make the cut."

Mike Van Sickle was careful to keep his focus despite spotting his former Pine-Richland golf coach, Gary Torso, and high school teammate Vince Smith.

Yet Van Sickle couldn't help but laugh when one of his groomsmen, Doug Stadler, made a snarky comment about his loud pants on the No. 2 green.

Mostly, Van Sickle smiled and tipped his cap to gallery applause. The momentum he gained with birdies on Nos. 13 and 14, however, ended with a second stoppage at 12:08 p.m.

"You can't afford yourself the luxury of trying to take it in because you have to be so dialed in and focused to succeed at what you're doing out there," said Van Sickle, who buried a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 16. "As much as I would have loved to look at my surroundings and wave to people while I'm walking the fairway, you can't lose your train of focus or things could go sideways pretty quick."

After teeing off at 6:56 a.m., Van Sickle finished just before the horn at 3:51 p.m. that stopped play. It took almost nine hours, but Van Sickle was one of nine golfers to complete the first round, coming in at 6-over 76.

"It was a great opportunity to see where I stand versus a lot of the competition, from evaluating my game versus other players," Van Sickle said. "I proved I can certainly hit it with those guys."

The U.S. Open isn't about competing against other players as much as it is the golf course.

Oakmont got the better of him in the first round, but Van Sickle is happy to smile, tip his cap and take another swing.

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at kgorman@tribweb.com or via Twitter @KGorman_Trib.

Your Town looks great.  Have not been here since prior to 9/11.  Hot as hell, but Vegas prospers.