amateurgolf.com Player Profile: Tim Thompson
27 Aug 2008
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HOUSTON, Texas (Aug. 27, 2008)--Tim Thompson's dream of qualifying for a USGA event, the Mid-Amateur in this case, looked to be within reach after 15 holes of qualifying at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Houston as he sat at 1-over-par.
But after three-putt bogeys on 16 and 17, hope seemed to fade.
Thompson, a member at the prestigious Champions Club in Houston, which is owned by Jackie Burke Jr. and boasts one of the most skilled membership in the country, got a glimmer of hope when he absolutely drilled his tee shot down the middle of the fairway on 18.
With 157 yards left to the green on the short par five after the 350+ yard drive, Thompson hit what he thought was a poor 9-iron at the green.
He thought the approach found the bunker until a playing partner spotted the ball 15-feet to the right of the pin.
"You talk about a paradigm shift in attitude," said Thompson. "I sized up the putt, and just made the sweetest stroke of my life and the hole seemed to just swallow the ball--I let out the biggest, 'YEAH BABY!' roar."
The eagle gave Thompson a share of second place, beating out more than 150 players for 7 spots in the U.S. Mid-Am field. That tourney starts Saturday, Sept. 7th at The Milwaukee Country Club.
amateurgolf.com will have daily coverage of that event, as well as the women's Mid-Am which takes place at the same time at Barton Hills in Michigan.
Previously, Thompson has taken top finishes in a slew of Houston area tournaments, including a 3rd place finish at the Medalist Golf Association's Cypresswood event as well as 3rd at the Champions Club Best Ball (with partner Jimmy Burke).