Youngsters Shut Out of Open Qualifying

Many of the best players in the world will be on display at Riviera Country Club when the Nissan Open begins Thursday. Tuesday, it was the PGA Tour’s future that might have been on display at the Los Serranos North Course in Chino Hills during the final day of qualifying for the event.

The future hasn’t arrived yet.

James Oh, a 16-year-old junior at Lakewood High, lost a playoff for the final qualifying spot, and a 13-year-old eighth grader from Rowland Heights, Henry Liaw, struggled to a four-over-par 76.

Playing in only his second qualifying tournament, Oh had the best round midway through qualifying with a six-under 66. A couple hours later, Alan Bratton of Fort Worth tied Oh, and those two were in position to earn the two available qualifying spots.

Until the final group of the day finished the 18th hole, when Bo Van Pelt of Reston, Va., had a 65 to leave Oh and Bratton tied for second. They were back on the par-five first tee for a playoff in near darkness at 5:45 p.m.

After Bratton birdied, Oh’s eight-foot birdie putt lipped out, giving Bratton the second spot.

Though neither Oh nor Liaw qualified, Oh said he could see what their showing signaled. Tour-caliber talent is getting younger.

“This has turned into a different sport,” Oh said shortly after his round, looking over his shoulder every few minutes to see if his name was still on top of the leaderboard. “Kids are starting a lot earlier and a lot of the young guys are playing as good as the veterans. My dad got me started when I was 5, and I was in tournaments by the time I was 10.”

Oh was in tournaments by 10, and Liaw, before he was even a teenager, turned in a round last July that got national attention.

Last July, Liaw, then 12, shot a 58 at Alhambra Municipal Golf Course. He has also won two Junior World Championships and finished second in another.

He isn’t even in high school, but his competitive drive is already in high gear. He wasn’t happy with his round Tuesday.

“I’m pretty much upset right now,” he said after making six bogies and two birdies and three-putting three times. “A 67. I can shoot that.”

Liaw, in his first attempt at qualifying for a tour event, shot an even-par 72 last week at Eagle Crest in Escondido, but did not make the field for the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines.

He has two things holding him back.

He can’t hit the ball as far as older players.

The other. . . .

“He needs to conquer this here,” said Jerry Wong, Liaw’s coach, pointing to his head. “He’s still nervous and he gets somewhat intimidated, especially when there are long hitters in his group.

“He needs to play in bigger tournaments like this, with big players.”

Liaw’s lack of experience is what put him in a hole Tuesday. He birdied the 181-yard second hole, then bogeyed the 469-yard par-five third. That was followed by bogeys on five, seven and eight, which left Liaw with a three-over 39 on the front.

“After the first two holes, I felt like I could qualify,” said Liaw. “But that third hole got me. I left shots short, so I swung harder and lost control.”

Oh, who had failed in his attempt to qualify for the Nissan Open on the Los Serranos South Course last year, had a more consistent round. He made eight birdies before bogeying 16 and 18. The reigning U.S. junior amateur champion credited the improved young amateur competition for his performance.

“There are a lot of tough amateurs out there,” he said. “And I’ve played well against a lot of them. So I know what’s going on.”