Golf: Shope advances in US Open qualifier

Eddie Shope took a shot at the US Open Local Qualifier golf tournament two years ago. Aside from some trouble putting his short game together, he did pretty well.

On Monday, everything came together for the 2004 Douglas High graduate as he tied for second, shooting a 69 in the same tournament to advance to sectional qualifying for the US Open.

"It felt awesome," Shope said. "I knew a lot of people from Gardnerville have kind of been pulling for me and there were a lot of people out there watching me. To be able to play well in front of them, it was just an awesome feeling."

Shope, who manages the Line Drive U indoor baseball and golf facility in Johnson Lane, spent the weeks leading up to the tournament on a pretty heavy practice routine.

"I've been playing some Golden State and Pepsi Tour events to try to prepare for this," he said. "I'm excited for the shot (at moving on). I've been preparing for this for a very long time, playing golf since I was 12.

"I've always wanted to play professionally, I feel like I'm ready for it. We'll just have to see what happens."

Shope's 69 on Monday was just a stroke off of his all-time best.

"I knew I was playing really well," he said. "I was hitting the ball well, I just needed to get up and down a couple times, make a couple putts and I did. I just kind of got in a zone and it turned out really well."

He'll compete in the sectional qualfier at Saticoy Country Club in Somis, Calif., on June 8. The top four or five finishers there will move on the US Open, one of the four major championships in golf, at Bethpage State Park Black Course in New York on June 15.

"I've never played the course in California," Shope said. "I'll have to get down there and develop a game plan. It's exciting, I'm looking forward to the competition."

Shope said he was grateful both to Line Drive owner James Stiltz and to Genoa Lakes for their support.

"Without them, I couldn't have done this," Shope said. "Genoa Lakes lets me play out there and practice and managing Line Drive has been a great opportunity.

"Just overall I want to thank my family, my brother in Christ, Dusty Funk who also caddied for me, and I praise God for giving me the opportunity to play."

Douglas junior Thomas Wicker finished 22nd at the tournament with a 77.