Singer Has a Rough Time, Bows Out of Open With 82

Mark Singer of North Hollywood didn’t make any apologies for his 12-over-par 82 in the second round of Friday’s U.S. Open in Springfield, N.J.

“I played awful,” the 27-year-old professional said. “I started bad and then I (double-bogeyed) the third hole and (triple-bogeyed) the sixth. After that I was just toast. I was just trying to stay out of everybody else’s way.”

Singer, who finished at 19-over-par 159, was not among the 88 players who made the 36-hole cut at Baltusrol Golf Club on Friday. The field of 156 was reduced to the low 60 scores or any player within 10 shots of the lead. The cut came at 144.

Leader Lee Janzen fired a 67 to gain a two-stroke advantage over Tom Watson and Payne Stewart, who are tied at 136.

“I couldn’t hit the ball on the greens,” Singer said. “My recovery shots were good and I was putting and chipping fine, but I couldn’t seem to hit the fairways.”

A victim of the notorious Open rough, Singer had bogeys on seven holes, in addition to two double bogeys and one triple bogey. Only two of the 156 players finished behind him.

Sylmar’s Dave Berganio, one of only three amateurs in the tournament, also failed to make the cut. The 1991 U.S. Public Links champion shot 76 for a total of 150. Ted Oh, a 16-year-old from Torrance High, shot a 79 for a 155.

The only amateur to make the cut was Justin Leonard, who had a 71 for 140.

Three area PGA players will continue in today’s third round. Corey Pavin is three shots off the lead at 137, Steve Pate is at 141, and Duffy Waldorf is at 143. All three are former UCLA players.