Golf fan shoots 40-over par in US Open qualifier after being entered as punishment for losing NFL fantasy league
A KANSAS CITY man got a painful dose of reality after being entered into a US Open golf qualifier as a fantasy football forfeit.
John Eckert, 26, took part in a US Open local event as punishment for finishing last in an NFL fantasy league.
Eckert paid off the debt to his friends on Monday, but finished dead last after a bruising round of 112 at Oakwood Country Club.
That left him on 40-over par for the round, which started badly when John missed his tee-off time by heading to the wrong hole.
The Overland Park native had actually registered as a pro to get into the event despite only playing 'once or twice a month'.
And his astronomical score means he won't be allowed back at the club with his amateur status revoked.
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Eckert got off to a shocking start and was +5 after two holes, topping his opening drive infront of his baffled playing partners.
Cole Gritton was playing alongside John and knew something was amiss immediately after Eckert tried - and failed - to connect with his first tee shot.
He explained to the Golf Channel: "He’s aimed about 30 degrees left, and he just cold tops it about 15 feet.
"I didn’t even know what to say. He kind of got it up there decent, but the next red flag was he was putting with his glove on.
"I was thinking maybe this is just some weekend warrior and this has been his dream to play a qualifier."
'COLD TOPS IT 15 FEET'
But the worst was yet to come, with the bogeys piling up and his flummoxed partners wondering just who they were competing against.
Eckert said to ESPN: "[After topping the first shot] I knew it was going to be a struggle.
"[I] had some momentum going into the qualifier, so the spirits were high."
But Eckert - who claims he usually scores in the 90s - made an ugly 10 on the par-4 fourth and two triple-bogeys before the turn.
He did however manage to make four pars across the 18-hole round, eventually finishing 40 shots behind winners Ryan Argotsinger and Andrew Beckler.
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Eckert continued: "I'm pretty happy with the four pars, for sure.
"The walking got to me. I'm more of a cart guy myself.
"The nerves started to calm down and I settled into the round,
"I managed to par three of my last five holes. After those holes, my confidence skyrocketed.
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"If this were a two-round qualifier, the field may have been in trouble."
This year's US Open will be held at The Country Club in Brookline and gets underway on Thursday, June 16.