Koskinen Enters Final Round of Open Qualifying
May 31, 2012
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami assistant golf coach John Koskinen will attempt to make his third U.S. Open Championship this Mon. June 4. Koskinen is attempting to qualify for the ninth time and this is the sixth time he has advanced to the final round.
Koskinen made it through the opening round on May 15, where he tied for third after carding a two-under 70 at the Country Club of Naples in Naples, Fla. This time around he will be competing at the Black Diamond Ranch – Quarry Course, in Lecanto, Florida.
This won’t be the first time Koskinen challenges the U.S. Open qualifying field. Back in 2006 and 2007 he made the U.S. Open cut. In 2006, he finished ahead of such names as Sergio Garcia and Davis Love III after carding a 13-over through two rounds.
“One of the biggest lessons I learned was that if I take the name off the person and I can compete against anyone. Put the top-30 guys aside, and I can hit as far as all of them,” said Koskinen.
For the past two weeks, coach has been preparing at several locations throughout south Florida sharpening his skills. He’ll have his brother fly in from his native Michigan and caddy for him this weekend. Just like he did at the 2006 US Open.
58 competitors will compete at the Black Diamond Ranch with only the top-3 golfers advancing after 36-holes. With such a large field, coach Koskinen believes it will take at least a five-under par to make it through this round.
“Confidence is a big thing,” said Koskinen. “Not having played this course before, but knowing and having the confidence that I can maneuver my way around any golf course adds an advantage.”
The round begins at 7:15 a.m. Monday morning with a 7:55 a.m. tee time for coach Koskinen. He will be paired with Andrew Golden, of Davie, Fla., and Ziting Wang, of Orlando, Fla. throughout the event.
Koskinen is a graduate of Michigan State University, where he excelled on both the golf course and in the classroom. He was a two-time Academic All-American as well as a member of the First-Team All-Big 10 and First-Team All-Midwest Region in 2003.
