A Trip back In Jacksonville golfing time

Florida Times-Union sports colunist Gene Frenette is at the Masters and provides content for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Friday April 11.

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- In 1994, Trip Kuehne was engaged in one of the most memorable duels in golfing history when he nearly took down Tiger Woods in the U.S. Amateur Championship at the TPC Stadium Course.
Woods had to rally from six shots down at one point, finally taking control behind a putt for the ages from the fringe at the par-3 17th hole.
Friday afternoon, the 35-year-old Kuehne closed the chapter on his competitive golf career with another bitter disappointment: he failed to make the Masters cut after a double-bogey at the par-three 16th hole, finishing three shots out of playing on the weekend.
Kuehne, whose only previous Masters appearance came in 1995 as the reigning U.S. amateur runnerup, had publicly stated that his amateur career would be over after this tournament. He was a bit emotional after his 150 total (six-over-par) wasn't good enough to extend his play for two more days.
"[I'm] sad it's over," Kuehne said. "All I wanted was an opportunity on the back nine here to make the cut. I had it and just didn't quite get it done. But it was a hell of a ride, but I guess this is the way it ends. I think this is the way you're supposed to ride away."
Despite coming from a golfing family -- brother Hank is a PGA Tour player and sister, Kelli, is on the LPGA Tour -- Kuehne bypassed the opportunity to turn pro and is a successful fund manager with Double Eagle Capitol in Dallas.
Ironically, Kuehne came within a foot of a double eagle Friday at the par-five 13th. He settled for an eagle to get to four-over-par, but his wayward tee shot into the water on No. 16 ended his quest to make the cut.
"I did what most amateur golfers do, they shank or hit bad shots and, unfortunately, I picked a very inopportune time to hit it sideways," said Kuehne. "That's the regret I'll always take with me, not playing 16 when it's such a perfect hole for me."

While Tiger Woods, who shot 71 Friday and stands at 1-under-par, is seven shots off Trevor Immelman's lead, the Masters leaderboard is well stocked with left-handers as two-time champion Phil Mickelson, Steve Flesch and Mike Weir (2003 winner) are all in the top eight after two rounds.
Check out my column in Saturday's Times-Union on Flesch and his caddie, Jacksonville resident Paul Fusco, who played a big part in Flesch recording the low round of the tournament (67) by nudging him into the right club selection that led to his eagle-3 at the 13th hole.
T-U golf writer Garry Smits will also provide his usual large dose of Masters coverage for the remainder of the tournament.