Making it to Columbus is an achievement in itself, making it to the US Open requires stellar play against the world's best golfers.  Mike hit the ball well but just could not give himself enough chances to get into red figures for the 36 hole, one day event.  New conforming wedges were part of the problem, not allowing Mike to spin the ball enough to get it close to make putts.  One bright spot, Mike did beat former Masters Champ Mike Weir.  Mike played with DA Points who made the cut and Eugene Smith, 2000 Big East Golfer of the Year and Big Break Contestant.

On May 16th, on a balmy, soggy and windy day in Northwest Ohio, Belmont Country Club hosted the regions local US Open Qualifying for this year's tournament at Congressional Country Club on June 16-19.  With Dave "Chips" Horn on the bag, Stone had a steady, veteran hand.  They had both played the course numerous times and they could both call on experience for the wicked weather they had to tee it up in.  About 4 hours later, soaking wet, Stone put the finishing touches on a stellar 73 and a first place finish.

On May 9th, a tornado blew in on the Silver Lake Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio.  Only this time, it wasn't a gust of wind.  It was Mike Stone.  Blitzing the field with 6 birdies in the Stableford Format, Stone destroyed everything in his way, capturing 27 points in all and his first victory on this year's 2011 Northern PGA Tour.  Filled with confidence, Stone was asked about his play after the round, "I played good.  Hit it straight and filled the cup when I needed to."  

Stone will tee it up May 16th in US Open Qualifying.

He is official.  He can now enter all of the local PGA pro events back home.  Firing rounds of 70 and 71, he easily coasted into earning his Professional Status.

The Steel Cross and Brad "Big" Apple ham and egged it to a stellar -11 best ball after round 1 and only one back heading into the alternate shot 2nd day.  Round 2 included 5 under par more to an impressive 2-day total of -16.  They both hit it great but left a couple out there.  However a check came their way with a solid 5th place victory!  Former phenom, Ty Tryon and his partner took home the winning check with a -19 card.

Teeing it up again in Florida this year with his lovely girlfriend by his side, the Steelcross finds his comfort on the fairways and greens while the snow sits on the ground in Toledo.  In his 1st event on the Florida Golf Tour, he had it to -4 on Sunday after a slow Saturday but he limped in the final two holes to finish a solid +1 for 2 days and a few shots out of the money.   A little more sun and a few more putts equal cash.  The Steelcross will visit the West PGA Golf Tour to start February.

We all know the game of golf can be a very cruel game.  Just look at this year's PGA Championship and Dustin Johnson.  Sometimes you can be hitting in great and you just can't score well or who knows you lose your ball.  Then you are hitting your drives well and you barely miss a fairway and it ends up in the bunker, and you find the ball plugged.  But then the day happens where it all clicks and it is great, then you wake up the next day and it is gone.  You lose some feel, then a bit of tempo, and you start to press.

Mike will tee it up at 11:45 on Thursday in the 1st round of the PGA Tour Pre-Qualifying stage.  "The course is long and narrow.  Hitting many 3-metals."  Interesting side note: The Finau brothers of the Big Break are in the field. 

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www.pgatour.com/qschoool/

Any we are off to races!  Even though this race is more of a golf marathon than a golf sprint, Steelcross will take it one shot at a time.  Relying on his life long experiences, a recent winter of pro golf in Florida and a summer of focus on the links, Mike Stone heads over this Sunday to San Antonio to play the TPC Canyons Course for the 1st round of PGA Tour Pre-Qualifying.  Although, this time he will have more support.  Stone's brother, Steve, aka "Rusty," will be the looper, hoping to earn a permanent job for his brother.

If you can put yourself in the mind of the PGA tour player, he cares about 3 things: 1) Hit the short stuff, 2) hit the greens and 3) make the putts.  But it all starts with hitting the fairway.  At some courses to really make these guys sweat, the fairways narrow and harden making even more difficult to stay out of the rough.  Even if you miss the green heaven by one yard, sometimes it can be as penalizing to chipping out of the woods.  So what is the Steelcross doing you ask?  Well he is busy experimenting with a higher lofted driver.