Ryan Longwell failed to advance in U.S. Open qualifying on Monday but that doesn't mean the Vikings kicker did not have a good time in his first experience of this type.
Longwell had only one birdie en route to shooting an 83 at MetroWest Golf Club near his home in Orlando, meaning he was not among the top five players from that course who will move to the 36-hole sectional qualifying in Hobe Sound, Fla. The low score at MetroWest was the 65 posted by Phillip Choi. That put Choi at 7-under par.
"It was a blast and a great experience," Longwell said in a text message. "I'll be much better next time just having gone through it."
Longwell was among 9,052 golfers who filed entries to play 18 holes at 111 courses in an attempt to qualify. The U.S. Open will be held June 17-20 at Pebble Beach.
Longwell wasn't the only NFL kicker trying to qualify for the U.S. Open. Jacksonville's Josh Scobee shot an 81 at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville and did not move on. Scobee, like Longwell, made only made one birdie.
Former big-league pitcher John Smoltz -- 6-over-par at the Marietta (Ga.) Country Club -- also was eliminated from possibly qualifying.
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