Gotsche makes U.S. Open field

Great Bend, Kan.,

golfer is a two-time

Mullen Pro-Am winner

Heritage Hills is the home course for the McCook High School boys golf team, which has won two straight Nebraska Class B state titles and seven in the last 11 years.

It is also the home course for defending Class B girls state champion Katherine Morell.

But the Heritage Hills magic doesn't stop there.

Steve Gotsche, used the recent John Mullen Pro-Am Tournament at Heritage Hills as a springboard to qualify for the 104th U.S. Open Tournament, which will be played Thursday through Sunday at Shinnecock Hills Country Club in Southampton (Long Island) N.Y.

One day after Gotsche tied for fifth at the John Mullen Pro-Am with a 2-under-par 142 score, he fired a 66 at the Columbine Golf Club in Littleton, Colo., to earn one of two U.S. Open entries from the U.S. Open qualfier.

Travis Hurst, who won the Mullen Pro-Am with a 130 score (65-65), also competed at Columbine but did not qualify.

Gotsche, who hails from Great Bend, Kan., teed off at 8:50 a.m. Thursday. His group includes Jeff Gove, Seattle, and Jimmy Green, Bayou La Batre, Ala.

Gotsche's Friday tee time is 1:50 p.m.

Matt Gogel, from Shawnee Mission, Kan., teed off at 8:40 a.m. Thursday. His group includes Craig Bowden, Bloomington, Ind., and Stteve Allan, Australia.

Gogel's Friday tee time is 1:40 p.m.

For Gotsche, 43, this is his ninth U.S. Open appearances. He has played on the PGA, Nike and Texas Tours. Gotsche is a two-time winner of the Mullen Pro-Am.

Gotsche was in the top 20 after three rounds at the U.S. Open at Hazeltine in Minnesota in 1991 before falling out of contention with a poor final round.

The 1991 tournament was memorable because the winner was Payne Stewart, who died tragically about 5-6 years ago.

Lee Maiden, Heritage Hills professional, said the McCook course is good preparation for Gotsche.

"He played a couple years at Hazeltine," said Maiden about Gotsche. "He loves Heritage Hills' greens.

"This is a true test of golf and a testimony to how tough the course is. We're excited that Gotsche made the cut at the U.S. Open."