Puyat rallies to earn slot in USGA juniors

Marcel Puyat rallied with a five-under-par 67 to finish joint second and earn one of three slots up for grabs for the USGA Junior Amateur Qualifying held at The Old Fort Golf Club in Mursfreeboro, Tennessee.

The Florida-based Filipino amateur almost did not make it after he groped for form with a two-over-par 74 in the opening day of the 36-hole qualifying tournament conducted by the USGA. He pooled in 141 in two days in a tie with Chad Ramey (72-69). Wesley Gosselin from Tennessee was the top player with 139 after an even 72. But on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), Puyat rammed home seven birdies, four coming in the first nine despite the hot and humid weather. He bogeyed the fifth after a missed green. Puyat, an incoming Stanford University freshman, birdied Nos. 10, 12 and 13 to start the last half. He three-putted the 18th hole from about 30 feet for his bogey. They were all relieved after bad scores were turned in by the first day leaders. Puyat will join 155 other junior stars who qualified all over the US for the 2010 USGA Junior Amateur Championship at the Egypt Valley Country Club in Michigan on July 19 to 24. – JVP, Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV