Dark day for Casas at Black Course

FARMINGDALE, New York – Shell-shocked by the severe conditions of the Open’s toughest venue in history, Filipino pro Cassius Casas struggled all day and hobbled home with a 12-over par 82 and faced the specter of elimination in the first round of the 102nd US Open at the Bethpage Black Course here.

"Grabe ang hirap," said Casas, who ended up in the rear of the standings, tied for 149th out of the 156-man field which started out in the day.

That put the first Filipino pro to have broken into the elite cast of the US Open 15 shots off first-day leader Tiger Woods and would face a daunting task of shooting a staggering subpar round in the second day Friday (Saturday in Manila) to make the cut-off.

The 35-year-old Casas felt earlier in the week that four-over par in two days might be the ticket to the weekend play. That means shooting a 62, an impossible task on the course toughened by head-high bunkers, fast greens and roughs "as thick as a phone book."

"Walang madaling holes, lahat mahirap. Grabe, pag hindi mo tinamaan ang fairways, good-bye," said Casas. He ended up tied with Steve Pate, Hale Irwin and Scott Parel.

In fact, in his 42-40 card, he hit only six of 14 fairways and hit only six greens in regulation and studded his birdie-less round with three double bogeys and six bogeys.

"Maganda naman ang palo, umaabot lang sa rough ang gulong. Magilid ka lang sa rough wala ng palo," rued Casas.

Thus the US Open saga of the intrepid Filipino big-hitter, who had to go through a sectional qualifier in the West Coast and endure a cross-country travel three days before the event as a last-minute entry, is virtually on its last stage unless he makes a tremendous recovery in the second round.

In fact, local ESPN viewers had a final glimpse of Casas on the background as Billy Mayfair, one of his two playing partners, putted out on the 18th to complete a 69, two shots off the pace.

"Pipilitin ko pa rin. I will do my best," said Casas, who worked out on the range after his round. - Lito A. Tacujan