Clifton McDonald hits 55 over par in attempt to qualify for 2017 US Open
Thursday 11 May 2017 15:02, UK
A golfer attempting to qualify for the US Open shot a round of 127 at a local qualifying tournament in Alabama on Wednesday.
The competition, held at Silver Lakes Golf Course, was just one of a number of qualifying tournaments for next month's US Open at Erin Hills.
Clifton McDonald endured a nightmare day, failing to record a single par on his way to a final score of 55-over-par across the 18 holes.
Things never got going for the golfer from Mississippi as he scored a double bogey on the very first hole. He carded three more double bogeys on his way to a score of 68 (32-over-par) on his front nine alone, just four shots shy of the par score for the entire course.
Live PGA Tour Golf
In addition to the swarm of double bogeys, his first nine holes also featured a 14 on a par-5, an 11 on a par-4, a triple bogey and a quadruple bogey.
Trending
- World Darts Championship: MVG leads Dolan, Littler to come LIVE!
- Liverpool latest: 'Trent tells club he wants to play for Real Madrid'
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Wolves boss: Cunha will get opportunities to leave
- World Darts Championship schedule: Humphries vs Wright headlines Sunday
- Arsenal latest: Saka provides injury update from hospital
- PL Predictions: Ravenous Liverpool to feast on West Ham
- Man Utd latest: European giants reject chance to sign Rashford
- Humphries: I'm one world title away from matching Wright's career
- One player every Premier League club must sign in January!
- Newcastle latest: Magpies enter race to sign ex-Premier League defender
There were some small improvements in the second half of McDonald's round, as he ended his back nine with a score of 59 (23-over-par), once again recording four more double bogeys.
McDonald was not the only golfer who struggled at Silver Lakes on Wednesday. Jacksonville's Christopher Burley finished with a score of 35-over-par - although that was still 20 shots ahead of McDonald.
On a day when the winning score was the three-over-par posted by Alabama local Robert Shelton IV, McDonald's fellow competitors were sympathetic to the plight of the Meridian resident.
Lee McCoy, who posted the second-highest score of two-under and advanced to the next round of the qualifying process, posted the Mississippi golfer's scorecard on Twitter and praised his tenacity.
"The scorecard of the guy that played in front of me at US Open qualifying today," tweeted McCoy. "Shot 68 on his front 9 and decided to finish #NeverGiveUp".
According to figures from the US Golf Association, McDonald is just one of 9,485 players attempting to qualify for the US Open, which will be held at Erin Hills for the first time.
Since its inception back in 1895, US Open has opened the door to outsiders, giving amateurs and low-ranking professionals alike the chance to compete alongside the world's best for the chance to win a major trophy.
