Brian Rowell wasn’t thinking about his two decades of hard work — and two decades of waiting — late Monday afternoon.

When he stood over a 10-foot birdie putt in a playoff in the U.S. Open Sectionals in Houston, all he thought about was his practice routine of the past three months "» the hour a day he spent standing over putts both shorter and longer, grooving his stroke.

"I never really said in my mind that this putt is to get into the U.S. Open," Rowell said Tuesday. "I just thought about how much I’d worked over the past couple of months, every day. If you do it every day and do it right, all of a sudden you’ve got something."

What Rowell has now is an invitation to compete for the country’s national championship, a berth in his first-ever major. When that 10-footer — one he said was actually an easy putt — rolled in, he was on his way to the hallowed Olympic Club in San Francisco next Thursday-Sunday as one of the 156 players in the field.

A total of 58 spots in the field were available Monday at 11 sites across the country where the USGA held Sectional qualifying. Rowell, a native of Alvin, Texas, who has lived in Lafayette for several years, had earned a sectional berth in local qualifying back on May 8 at Lakewood in New Orleans. But he’d made it to the sectionals before and had never been able to take the final step.

The odds were stacked against the 39-year-old Rowell even at his Monday sectional at Lakeside Country Club in Houston, where 56 players were competing for only three spots in the Open.

But at the end, Rowell was one of four players tied for second at four-under 140, two strokes behind PGA Tour veteran and four-time Tour winner Bob Estes. That meant a four-man playoff with Rowell, Australian and Tour veteran Alistair Presnell and collegiate standouts Jordan Spieth of Texas and Houston native Cory Whitsett of Alabama, with two Open berths available.

"He (Whitsett) is a member there, so we probably had close to 500 people watching and Golf Channel cameras there," Rowell said of the playoff. "It was cool."

Rowell can say that now, since his playoff was almost relaxing. The sudden-death began on the 10th hole, a 168-yard par-3, and Rowell hit an 8-iron within 10 feet and was easily the closest of the group. No one else threatened birdie.

"It was going to 17 and 18 from there," he said of the playoff. "Thankfully I didn’t have to worry about that. I couldn’t have had an easier putt."

Presnell earned the other spot with a two-putt birdie on the 18th hole. By that time, Rowell was already making mental plans for this weekend’s trip to the Bay area.

"I was pretty excited," said Rowell, who has qualified for Tour events several times and missed getting into this week’s FedEx St. Jude Classic in qualifying late last week. "I felt just like getting into a Tour event, but now I know it’s so much different. It’s a first major "» I thought that would have come a long time ago. But now that it’s out there everywhere and I’ve heard from so many people, it’s pretty special."

Rowell was at five-under with three holes to go Monday but had a three-putt bogey on the seventh hole (he started on the 10th) before posting two pars to reach the playoff. Spieth, the two-time U.S. Junior Amateur champ in 2009 and 2011, and Whitsett had just returned from the NCAA Championships that wrapped up Sunday, and both birdied two of their final four holes to force the playoff.

The sectional success continues a strong spring for Rowell, who currently heads the Adams Pro Tour in earnings ($34,577). He’s already won twice this year on that tour, taking the Victoria (Texas) Open in March and the Lions Club Open in Westlake in April, and has three other top-five finishes including the Mary Bird Perkins tourney at Santa Maria in Baton Rouge last month (third) and last week’s Bay Oaks Open in Houston (fourth).

"I haven’t felt like I’ve played great," he said, "but with all the hard work I’ve put in with my coach (Bear Suarez), it feels like when I play average it’s still pretty good."

And there’s no question what part of the game Rowell credits for his recent success

‘My putting’s 100 percent better than it’s ever been," he said. "In the past I’ve hit it better and didn’t putt well, this year’s I’m hitting it average and still contending almost every week. I’ve been working two hours every day on my game, and an hour of that has been putting every day, rain or shine, in my house if I have to."

That stroke has him headed for the Open, where he’ll be the second Lafayette-based player to tee it up in two years. Lafayette’s Michael Smith won his sectional in Dallas last year to earn a spot at Congressional in 2011.

"I have to give credit to Dane and Cara Escott, who have sponsored me," Rowell said. "Without them none of this would be possible. They’ve helped me devote the time needed to do this, and anytime I’ve ever needed them to help me out in golf, they’ve always been there."

Rowell and wife Brittany will travel to San Francisco Saturday with Suarez and his son Ben Suarez, a former McNeese golfer who will caddy for Rowell. He’ll have as many practice rounds as he wants, a departure from his Tour qualifying.

"In those, it’s qualify on Monday and one practice round Tuesday before the pro-ams," he said. "Now I can practice as much as I want to. I’m trying not to get too excited about it, but it’s really nice to know that after everything we’ve been through that we’re finally there."

"Making the Turn" appears each Wednesday. Clubs, courses and individuals with information about local golf events may email Dan McDonald, editorial director at Golfballs.com, at danmcdonald@cox.net, FAX to (337) 857-8763 or call (337) 857-8754 and leave a message with phone number. Listen to the "Making the Turn" radio show each Wednesday from 8-9 a.m. on ESPN -Sports Radio 1420.

Chip Shots

State AM: The state’s most prestigious golf title is on the line starting tomorrow when the Louisiana Golf Association stages its 93rd annual State Amateur championships. The four-day, 72-hole event is set for the TPC Louisiana course in Avondale through

A full field of 144 players are in the field, most of them (111) qualifying through a series of eight events held around the state in May. One of those qualifiers was May 14 at the Farm d’Allie, where Youngsville’s Toby Zeringue (68), B. C. Thibeaux of Lafayette (70) and Ross Bryant of Alexandria (71) led the local qualifiers.
They join an Acadiana contingent that also includes James Anderson, Ben Dupont, Skye Mejia, Matt Smith, Amir Tengku and Mark Tolson of Lafayette, Kelsey Angelle of Arnaudville, Shane Goff of Crowley, Mick Huffman of Maurice, Kenley Jones of Avery Island, Logan Lajack of Opelousas, Brad Landry of Scott, Ethan Savoy of Broussard and John Talley of St. Martinville.
In addition to that group, UL Ragin’ Cajun golf team members Andrew and Jason Noto of Luling and Brandt Garon of Baton Rouge are in the field. Andrew Noto was the first-day leader in last year’s State Amateur before finishing fourth, while Talley finished eighth and Huffman ninth last year.
The State Amateur is one of eight tournaments the LGA hosts during the year. The last of those, the State Senior Four-Ball, will be played locally when Le Triomphe hosts that event Sept. 22-23.

ACES: As proof that the hole-in-one club isn’t limited to the over-21 age group, 17-year-old Kaleb Pope of Opelousas posted his first ace last Saturday on the 140-yard sixth hole at Lafayette Municipal. Pope, a college student, has been playing for only three years and used a 50-degree wedge and a Titleist DT ball while playing with Glenn Baudoin.
Luke Beslin reported that his law partner Jim Cunningham of Rayne tallied the third ace of his golfing career last Friday at Oakbourne. Cunningham holed out on the 159-yard 15th hole with an 8-iron and a Callaway ball while playing in a group with Dwayne Brown, David Thibeaux, Richard Broussard and Bruce Montesano.
Ernest Roger of Lafayette, a 40-year golfing veteran at age 69, used a wedge and a Nike ball to hole out on the 105-yard second hole at Hebert Municipal last Tuesday. Roger was playing in a group with Roland Delahoussaye, Harris Theriot, Doug Trusdell and Jackie Serrette.
John Bates of Lafayette used an 11-wood and a Callaway ball to hole out on the 141-yard seventh hole at Les Vieux Chenes on May 9. It was the first career hole-in-one for the 83-year-old Bates, who was in a group with John Bolin and Fred Janning.
Paul Guy of Lafayette used a 9-iron and a Titleist NXT Tour ball to ace the 132-yard 16th hole at The Wetlands last Saturday. Guy was playing in a group that included Mike Boudreaux, Curley Scrantz and David Luquette.

ALL-LOUISIANA: Three members of UL’s golf team earned honors on the All-Louisiana Team announced over the weekend by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Senior Philipp Fendt was named to the five-man All-Louisiana team along with Philipp Westermann of Southeastern Louisiana and the LSU threesome of Sang Yi, Andrew Presley and Austin Gutgsell. Fellow Ragin’ Cajun senior Andrew Noto was named as one of only three honorable mention selections.
In addition, junior Brandt Garon was selected as the state’s Newcomer of the Year. The Cajun threesome helped lead UL to a team berth in the NCAA Championships "” a first in seven years "” and to a third-place finish in the Sun Belt Conference this season.

MORE COLLEGIANS: Two players with local ties also grabbed a headline over the past week, both at McNeese State.
Crowley product Ali Lucas, a two-time state prep champion while at Notre Dame, has transferred from UL Monroe to McNeese and will be immediately eligible for her final two seasons. Lucas led ULM this season with a 75.9 stroke average as a sophomore and won the Claude Jacobs Challenge in Victoria, Texas, and finished second in the Blue Raider Invitational in Murfreesboro, Tenn. She was also named to the All-Sun Belt Conference team this year "” the same tournament in which she shot a college career low round of 69 as a freshman.
Maurice’s Mick Huffman was already at McNeese on the men’s team, and he was honored as the Cowboys’ Most Valuable Player for the spring season two weeks ago. Huffman, a sophomore, led the team with a 76.8 spring average along with a 75.2 mark for the full season with three rounds in the 60’s, and he had a season-best runner-up spot in the Houston Baptist Invitational. He will be recognized at one of McNeese’s football games this fall.

USSSA TWINBILL: The USSSA Golf Junior Tour wraps up play today in the Cajun Classic at Oakbourne, and will head to Copper Mill in Zachary for the Gator Classic Saturday-Sunday. That event is open to boys and girls age 9-18 with the 12-14 and 15-18 age groups playing 36 holes and the 9-11 age group playing 18 holes (nine daily).
Entry fee is $150 for the two older age groups and $75 for the youngest group. Players must be USSSA registered, and entries are available online at www.usssa.com or from Robert Boudreaux at (337) 278-8431.

HALL OF FAME GOLF: The annual Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction activities are two weeks away, and local golfers may take part in one of those activities with the Encana Hall of Fame Celebrity Pro-Am scramble set for Friday, June 22, at Oak Wing in Alexandria.
Dozens of Hall of Famers, including this year’s induction class of Deuce McAllister, Warrick Dunn, Terry Robiskie, Roger Carr, Pete Richardson, Aaron James, Eddy Furniss and record-holding Lafayette jockey Mark Guidry, will take part in the scramble that has registration and lunch at 11:30 a.m. and a 1 p.m. shotgun start.
Entry fee is $150 which includes tee gifts and Hall of Fame apparel, food and beverages and pairing with at least one Louisiana sports figure as celebrity captain. Individual entries or teams of five are available, and more information is available online at www.lasportshall.com.

MIKE OPEN: Entries are currently being accepted for the annual "Mike Open," hosted annually by district attorney Mike Harson. The event is a major fund-raiser for charities, and especially youth groups, throughout the Acadiana area
The tournament has morning and afternoon tee times on both Monday, July 16, and Tuesday, July 17, at Les Vieux Chenes, and brochures and entry information are available at the course.

LAGNIAPPE: Cart staff and part-time outside operations positions are currently available immediately at Les Vieux Chenes. Applicants may come by the club or call Todd Robertson or Bane Luquette at 837-1159 "» Reigning Chitimacha Louisiana Open champ Casey Wittenberg of Memphis was one of 10 current Nationwide Tour players to claim spots in next week’s U.S. Open through Monday’s sectional qualifying. Wittenberg carded a 68-68"”136 to finish second at the sectional held at the River Club in Suvanee, Ga., and earn a spot in his 10th USGA championship event "» Don’t be surprised if Shreveport’s David Toms winds up on the leaderboard at this weekend’s FedEx St. Jude stop on the PGA Tour. Toms won there in both 2003 and 2004 and is that tournament’s all-time money winner. He also ranks second on Tour in fairways hit this year, a prerequisite at the TPC Southwind course in Memphis. Also in the field are Acadian-by-marriage Chris Riley, Baton Rouge’s Heath Slocum and Patrick Reed and Monroe’s Brian Bateman.