Travis Steed comes up short in bid for U.S. Open

Travis Steed’s first trip to the U.S. Open Sectional qualifier didn’t turn out the way he planned.

Steed, who plays out of the Bowden Golf Club, shot rounds of 78-78 and did not earn one of three spots available at the qualifier at the Ansley Golf Club–Settindown Creek.

The qualifier was won by Grant Bulle, a former college player at Middle Tennessee State who now competes on the Web.Com Tour. Bulle shot rounds 69-64 and his 11-under total was three shots clear of runner-up Ryan Stachler, a sophomore at South Carolina. It took 4-under to earn an alternate spot.

“Two 78s is not that good,” Steed said. “I expected to play better than I did. I didn’t play well. I didn’t putt well. It wasn’t meant to be, I guess.”

Steed was solid at the start of his round with four straight pars, but he ran into trouble at the 209-yard par-3 fifth hole and took a double bogey.

“I made that double on that par-3 and never could get it back,” Steed said. “I lost my feels on the greens, really. They’re quick, and it’s tough up and over these mounds. There’s a lot of breaks in some of them, especially if you’re not controlling your ball in the right position on the green. It makes a difference.”

Steed was somewhat familiar with Settindown Creek from playing the Georgia Amateur there four years ago. But in a field of professional golfers and college players, Steed faced some long odds.

“I work for a living, too,” he said with a laugh.

Steed is an accomplished player who teamed with Mark Sweeney of Monroe to win the Georgia Four-Ball Championship.

Steed was the only Middle Georgia representative in the field after Eatonton’s Blake Adams withdrew late Sunday night.

Adams notified the USGA that he was withdrawing because he was unable to change his travel plans to get home in time. He was competing in the Web.com Tour event in the Dominican Republic and could not get a later flight. Adams was in contention and wound up finishing fourth.

This story was originally published June 6, 2016 at 8:54 PM with the headline "Travis Steed comes up short in bid for U.S. Open."