Some of the Names Will Ring a Bell

One of golf’s biggest names is entered in today’s U.S. Open sectional qualifier at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, where four players will emerge from a field of 68 having earned a tee time at the major championship in Pinehurst, N.C.

It is obviously not the same Ben Hogan who won four U.S. Opens, but that’s the name of a player who advanced to the sectional via his local qualifier in Cleveland.

Some of the more notable golfers who will tee it up today are Scott Simpson, the 1987 U.S. Open champion; Chris Riley, Steve Pate and John Cook. Also in the field are David Berganio Jr., the two-time U.S. Amateur Public Links champion from Sylmar, and Sihwan Kim, 16, the reigning U.S. Open junior champion from Fullerton.

Another player to watch: Thomas Lehman. Not that Tom Lehman, but a hopeful from Indio who happens to share the same name as the PGA Tour player and captain of the 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Some golfers made it to the sectional through local qualifying; others were exempt. All will play 36 holes as they try to become one of the fortunate four and among 84 players who will be in the U.S. Open field via sectional qualifying.

-- Pete Thomas