Quarterfinal/Semifinal Notebook

The 14th, The Dune With A View – The 14th green at the Bandon Dunes Course is rimmed on the backside by a dune that is approximately 30 feet above the green. With the tees up to 349 yards today, the green is drivable, which four of the eight quarterfinalists did in the morning. In fact, six players made birdie, which when told to USGA staff person in charge Alli Jarrett, a smile broadened her face.

The view from the grass-covered dune behind the 14th hole gives a great panorama of the Bandon Dunes Course. Six holes can be seen as well as the expanse of the Oregon coastline. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)

The hill is not the highest point on the property (the 2nd green and 3rd tee are higher), but it is only 100 feet or so above shoreline level. From that semicircular spot, you can see the par-3 15th behind you to the north, the entire par-4 16th hole (which runs along the Pacific) to the east, the par-4 17th to the south as well as the 18th tee. Add the 13th hole to your left (west) and you can see parts of six holes.

That wide a scope of viewing makes you wonder how good of a grandstand location that would be if this was a U.S. Open.

Kuehne’s USGA Summer – This summer and early fall have been USGA-packed for Trip Kuehne.

He has played in five USGA events – the U.S. Open (missed cut), the U.S. Amateur (missed match play), the Walker Cup (winning side), the USGA Men’s State Team (member of championship Texas squad who shot 67 on the final day) and now is in the final of the Mid-Amateur.

In his sixth Mid-Amateur and his third in a row, he has made his deepest penetration into the match play bracket by advancing to the final.

"Let’s face it, it was a dream come true for me to qualify for the Open this year after I put so much into the Amateur at Oakmont in 2003,” Kuehne said. “But, I played so badly it rattled me. It rattled my confidence. And, then in July, I had to work.”

After a solid month of work in his financial company, he played in the U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club and shot 74-83 and missed the match play cut.

"The 83 at Olympic was a blessing in disguise because it made me focus,” Kuehne said. “I realized I have the rest of my life to focus on my business.”

With that renewed commitment and berth on the Walker Cup team in his possession, he practiced golf hard in August.

"I play so I can play in the Walker Cup, that’s what I do,” Kuehne said.

Kuehne, who was the runner-up at the 1994 U.S. Amateur to Tiger Woods, has played in more than 20 USGA championships.

He has represented the USA three times on the Walker Cup Match team (1995, 2003, 2007) and was also on the 2006 USA team at the World Amateur Team Championship in South Africa.

He is also a member of the Junior Amateur championship committee.

Further, his sister, Kelli, won the 1994 Girls’ Junior, the 1995 and 1996 Women’s Amateurs and was on the 1996 USA Curtis Cup and Women’s World Amateur teams. His younger brother, Hank, won the 1998 U.S. Amateur with Trip caddieing and was on the 1998 USA team at the World Amateur Team Championship.

"Now, I’m pretending that the Mid-Am is the U.S. Amateur,” he said.

Medalist Match, Mishmash – A record-breaking six players finished stroke play tied for medalist honors at 1-over-par 144 for 36 holes. Two of the six faced off in the quarterfinals Tuesday morning. That is: Steve Sear, 41, of Washoe Valley, Nev., and three-time USA Walker Cupper Trip Kuehne, 35, of Irving, Texas, were also the oldest remaining players in the field.

It took 20 holes and a very fast downhill up-and-down par from Kuehne to win the co-medalist match.

Sear played his college golf at Southern California and Kuehne was a decorated player at Oklahoma State.

Kuehne is not in unfamiliar waters by earning the bronze medal in stroke play. He was co-medalist in last year’s Mid-Amateur with Carlton Forrester and Ryan Hybl as well as the 1997 U.S. Amateur Public Links at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Ky.

The list of co-medalists is impressive and includes two past champions in George Zahringer (2002) of New York, Austin Eaton III (2004) of North Sutton, N.H., 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion Tim Hogarth of Northridge, Calif., and five-time Mid-Amateur participant Rich Berkmeyer of St. Louis.

Incidentally, the medalist score of 144 was the highest since 1984 when Bob Lewis and Danny

Yates (both past Walker Cuppers and captains) tied at 146 at the Highlands Course of the Atlanta Athletic Club.

For the record, the last medalist to win: George Zahringer in 2002 (who was co-medalist with Pat Carter and Bill Sharpe).  He is the only medalist to go on to win the championship.

Texas In 2007 – Kuehne is carrying the state flag of Texas, which has had the best summer of any of our 50 states. With Colt Knost, of Dallas, winning the Amateur Public Links and the Amateur, Anna Schultz, of Rockwall, winning the Senior Women’s Amateur, Cory Whitsett, of Houston, winning the Junior Amateur and Texas winning the Men’s State Team, five USGA trophies already reside in the Lone Star State this year.

Compiled by Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations