2 Exempt Players Forced to Qualify Hard Way

Two top shelf players, who’d expected be resting on qualify Monday only a few months ago, earned their passes to the USDGC with solid play on a dreary, chilly day after missing their exempt player qualification deadline.

Both Gregg Barsby and Will Schusterick, who had earned an invitation to the 2009 USDGC by top 20 finishes in 2008, sloshed their way through the rain soaked fairways of Winthrop Gold and delivered a 63 (-5) and 65 (-3) respectively.

Barsby, of Grass Valley, Calif., led the field followed by Schusterick, of Knoxville, Tenn. and Dan Tucker, who also logged in a 65. The remaining two spots were awarded to Henry Childres and John Murphy with a 67 after later emerging from a 4-man playoff.

Despite playing well, Schusterick and Barsby would have preferred to be warm, dry and exempt. Schusterick, who finished 20th last year, said he was glad the “monkey was off his back,” after qualifying, but he wished he was just chilling out at his room like the other exempt pros instead of fighting for a spot.

Because of his 2008 finish, he was under the impression that his spot was already reserved and he had more time to qualify. Barsby, playing in his fourth USDGC, also thought his spot was secure. But when the two tried to pay their entrance fee they found they were past the deadline, and were forced to qualify prior to the tournament.

After such an oversight, Schusterick said he would’ve been beside himself with frustration if he didn’t make the grade on Monday.

“If there’s one tournament I want to play it would have to be the USDGC’s,” said Schusterick, who’s now playing his third.

Barsby actually bought a one-way ticket and flew cross-country from Portland, Ore., to play in the tournament.
“I didn’t want to get that flight back,” said Barsby, who placed 15th last year after being tied for 3rd with 9 holes to go.

Needless to say, both were stoked about qualifying.
“I feel ecstatic,” Barsby said later that night.

The wet conditions Monday didn’t make it easy. Varying amounts of rain fell on the course throughout the day.
Barbsy said the moist ground made the brutal conditions of Winthrop Gold even trickier.

Schusterick, who started in the morning, said the biggest thing was keeping his disc dry, but that wasn’t much a problem since he had four towels in his bag. It also helped that his roommate Kris Orrick, exempt USDGC top 20, was his caddie, he said.

Schusterick was –10 after a hot start through 13 holes. However, he hit a rough patch on the back nine that brought him down to earth.
“I felt oh, this is really easy, until, oh my God, what am I doing?”

Barsby, starting around noon, also was feeling good early. However after getting into the red he stumbled on holes 10 and 11 and was back to even and feeling the pressure. The Memorial Cup champion, then picked up speed and birdies and by hole 17 he was feeling confident about his score. Then after taking a birdie on the make-it-or-break-it hole, he said “that was pretty much when the smile came.”

Despite not wanting to qualify this way, both Schusterick and Barsby said they took away some tips for the rest of the week, mainly finishing strong. Schusterick said he lost focus in the latter part of the round and admitted he should have looked for pars on holes like 16 where he ended up with a double bogey.

In the future both players said they’ll take more precautions with qualifying for the event, though they both believe the exemption language was a bit murky.
“I wish I didn’t have to qualify. Next time I will definitely take the initiative to be in,” Barsby said.

He said the USDGC is worth the effort.
“It’s the premiere event for disc golf in this day in age,” Barsby said.