What were the words of Larry Giebelhausens essay to Golf Digest?”
NEW YORK — June 22, 2009 – NBC Sports’ broadcast of the Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge has been rescheduled for Saturday, July 4 at 2 p.m. following NBC Sports’ coverage of the Wimbledon Ladies’ Singles Final. The event had been originally scheduled for broadcast yesterday leading into NBC Sports’ final round U.S. Open coverage but weather delays forced programming changes. Michael Jordan, Ben Roethlisberger, Justin Timberlake and amateur winner Larry Giebelhausen all set out with the goal of breaking 100 at the Black Course at Bethpage State Park, the site of the 2009 U.S. Open Championship. The group played all 18 holes of the Black Course from the back tees under strict USGA rules. In the December 2008 issue, Golf Digest asked readers to send in a six-word essay on why they thought they could break 100 at Bethpage Black. The four finalists were narrowed down from 73,581 essays that were submitted.
For a lifelong Cub’s fan who has come to view any glass mostly empty, it’s a win as rewarding as any World Series triumph. Phoenix police lieutenant Larry Giebelhausen received nearly 30 percent of 109,712 votes in the Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge to earn a chance to play Bethpage Black the Friday before the Open — and, with fellow amateurs Michael Jordan, Ben Roethlisberger and Justin Timberlake, attempt to show that an “average golfer” can break 100 on the brutal Open setup. Giebelhausen finished with 32,830 votes, followed by Philadelphia emergency room doctor Philippe de Kerillis with 31,524 votes (almost 29 percent), Maryland Fire Chief Bob Ray with 25,836 votes, and McLean, Va., internist Dr. Dale Matthews with 19,522 votes. Voting concluded at 11:59 p.m. Friday. Giebelhausen will represent 73,581 contestants who submitted six-word “essays” in the second year of the Challenge. His six: “I’m a cop. I’ll shoot low.” “I’m thrilled. This is wonderful,” said Giebelhausen Saturday
