Coming out of his 65 (-7) this Monday during the Monday Qualifier of the Rocket Mortgage Classic, Nick Bienz thought he had secured his place for his very first tournament on the PGA Tour. This employee of the Golf Galaxy chain of stores was certain that his score at the Orchards Golf Club in Michigan was enough.
Nick Bienz, results
The American then headed to the golf clubhouse to celebrate his “achievement”. A first then a second beer… “It’s the second, I need every drop of alcohol to calm my nervous system and not vomit on myself,” confessed the American to the manager of the X Monday Q Info account, Ryan French.
But Nick Bienz celebrated a little too soon. While he shared the lead with two other players, two new 65s (-7) were signed in the final games. But only four places were at stake in this qualification. “Remember how I said three beers would be a perfect amount? Well, I’m perfect,” he smiled as he headed to the start of the five-a-side play-off.
Nick Bienz finally took eight holes to extricate himself from this extension to earn his place for his very first tournament sanctioned by the PGA Tour which will take place at the Detroit Golf Club starting Thursday. The one who played at the University of Indiana-Indianapolis (graduated in 2019) works three days a week at a Golf Galaxy during the summer to pay for his professional career.
He trains on the TrackMan in his store outside of his working hours. The 28-year-old man was expected to be at work for the next few days. “I haven’t even packed any clothes for this week,” Bienz said. Every time I competed in a Korn Ferry Tour qualifier on Monday, I used to bring eight days’ worth of clothes.
I never managed to qualify so I adopted the strategy of only bringing what I needed for Monday and telling myself that I would manage if necessary. »