The United States Golf Association has accepted 8,300 entries for the 2011 U.S. Open Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., in June.
Graeme McDowell, the 2010 champion, and eight other past champions are fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming championship. They are: Angel Cabrera (2007), Michael Campbell (2005), Ernie Els (1994, 1997), Jim Furyk (2003), Lucas Glover (2009), Retief Goosen (2001, 2004), Geoff Ogilvy (2006) and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002, 2008).
For the first time, only online entries were accepted, and the USGA received 680 entries on the last day applications were accepted Wednesday, including 135 entries in the final hour. Kevin Hayashi, 49, of Hilo, Hawaii, submitted his entry just 15 seconds before the deadline of 5 p.m. EDT.
To be eligible, a player must have a USGA Handicap Index no higher than 1.4, or be a professional.
The 65 golfers who are already fully exempt into the 2011 U.S. Open are:
(a=amateur)
Robert Allenby
Jonathan Byrd
Angel Cabrera
Michael Campbell
Paul Casey
Alex Cejka
K.J. Choi
a-David Chung
Stewart Cink
Tim Clark
Ben Crane
Jason Day
Luke Donald
Ernie Els
Rickie Fowler
Hiroyuki Fujita
Jim Furyk
Lucas Glover
Retief Goosen
Bill Haas
Padraig Harrington
Gregory Havret
Charley Hoffman
Trevor Immelman
Miguel Angel Jimenez
Dustin Johnson
Zach Johnson
Robert Karlsson
Martin Kaymer
Anthony Kim
Kyung-Tae Kim
Matt Kuchar
Martin Laird
Davis Love III
Hunter Mahan
Graeme McDowell
Rory McIlroy
Phil Mickelson
Edoardo Molinari
Francesco Molinari
Ryan Moore
Kevin Na
Geoff Ogilvy
Louis Oosthuizen
Jeff Overton
Ryan Palmer
Ian Poulter
Alvaro Quiros
Justin Rose
Charl Schwartzel
Adam Scott
Heath Slocum
Brandt Snedeker
Henrik Stenson
Kevin Streelman
Steve Stricker
a-Peter Uihlein
Bo Van Pelt
Camilo Villegas
Nick Watney
Bubba Watson
Lee Westwood
Mark Wilson
Tiger Woods
Y.E. Yang

Ryan Lee, a former all-state golfer from Berlin High, and the son of Cheshire basketball and golf coach Dan Lee, died Tuesday just days after getting hit by a taxic cab in New York City.

He was a current member of the Long Island University men's golf team. You can read more about this tragegy from this link at ctgolfer.com.

http://bit.ly/mxhPLf

Xavier High School's Geoff Vartelas was the medalist in a match against Hamden Tuesday, shooting a 38 at Laurel View Country Club in Hamden. The biggest reason he achieved that score was by posting a double-eagle on the par-5 fourth hole, holing a 3-wood from 250 yards away according to his coach, Mike Kohs.

In other high school golf news, Notre Dame-West Haven beat Fairfield Prep by five strokes (149-154) at Race Brook CC. It was the first time ND beat Prep in a decade.

The Assistants Association Pro-Pro event from the Connecticut Section PGA was held Tuesday at Indian Hill Country Club.
Adam D’Amario (The Ranch GC) and Adam Seely (Bulls Bridge GC) paired for a 7-under-par 65 to win the event by 1 over Kyle Bilodeau (Hartford GC) and Greg Lauzier (Orchards GC), who came in at 66
William Street (New Haven CC) and Paul Nothe (Quaboag GC) were tied for third at 69 with Brent Paladino (New Haven CC) and Steven Giroux (Ludlow), and Larry Antinozzi (TPC River Highlands) and Michael Matrone (Fox Hopyard GC).

The tournament unveiled its newly-enhanced website Monday at www.TravelersChampionship.com. Some of the features include a homepage story slider, tournament blog, multimedia galleries, countdown clock, social media widgets and an interactive toolbar that allows fans to add comments to stories, blogs and posts.
Fans can go to the website to get an $11 savings off advanced ticket pricing for two any one day tickets and one Lot B parking pass. This special ticket package will cost only $55 until May 5.

Travelers Championship officials announced six commitments to this year’s tournament including a pair of past champions, Hunter Mahan and J.J. Henry.
Also announced Monday were Stuart Appleby, Chris DiMarco, Tommy Gainey and John Daly. In addition, the tournament is announcing the launch of its newly enhanced interactive website. The tournament will be held June 23-26 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.
Mahan, who won his first PGA Tour event at the Travlers in 2007, is currently 20th in the Official World Golf Rankings. Coming off a strong 2010 campaign where he recorded two more tour wins, Mahan has already had five top-10 finishes this season, his best a runner-up at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
Henry, the 2006 winner and a Fairfield native, has made 11 straight cuts this season, including six top-25 finishes and one top 10.
Daly is a two-time major championship winner (the 1991 PGA and the 1995 British Open) and a five-time tour winner overall. He missed the cut last year at the Travelers after having not come to the tournament since 2002.
Appleby is a nine-time tour winner, his last victory came in August at The Greenbrier Classic, where he shot a 59 in the final round. DiMarco, a three-time winner on tour will be making his 11th appearance at the Travelers.
Previously announced players includes Bubba Watson, Kenny Perry, Vijay Singh, Anthony Kim, Padraig Harrington, Zach Johnson, Justin Leonard, Lucas Glover and Jhonattan Vegas.

Sarah Baker and Teal Howard are off to 5-0 starts for the Hamden High tennis team.

For their story, and a video presentation, check it out!


http://bit.ly/i1z5b3