Published: June 18, 2009 01:36 pm      

GOLF: U.S. Open to preview Porter Cup

NIAGARA FALLS — Looking for a preview of the 51st annual Porter Cup, to be held just over a month from now at Niagara Falls Country Club?

Click on the TV at any point today.

Four golfers who will be part of what Porter Cup Tournament Director Steve Denn is calling “the strongest field in my tenure as director,” will be teeing it up today at Bethpage Black for the opening round of the U.S. Open.

Drew Weaver, who won the 2007 British Amateur and already has a Porter Cup appearance on his resume, will tee off on the first hole this morning at 7:11 a.m. At the same time, Drew Kittleson — also expected to be in this year’s Porter Cup field — will be starting off the back nine.

Two more players who are signed up to play in Lewiston, Tyson Alexander and Cameron Tringale, will tee off at 9:01 a.m. and 2:31 p.m., respectively.

“It’s pretty flattering, knowing that they’re playing in what might be the biggest tournament in the world, yet they're going to find time to fit the Porter Cup in that same schedule,” Denn said. “We take a lot of pride in that.”

Weaver, qualified for the Open at a sectional qualifier in Maryland, but he’s no stranger to big golf tournaments. Aside from his win at the British Amateur, the former Virginia Tech player played in 2007’s British Open and also played at the 2008 Masters.

He’s still looking to make his first pro cut, something that’s been tough to grasp considering his amateur success.

“It’s tough when you win a big golf tournament at a relatively early stage in your career,” Weaver told the Washington Post. “A lot of expectations get thrown on you, and that can be difficult. And for me it was. But toward the end of this spring, I’ve kind of been able to get back to normal and just play golf.”

Meanwhile, Alexander will become the third member of his family to play in the event, following in the footsteps of his father, Stewart, who played in the 1987 and 1994 U.S. Open, and grandfather Skip, who made appearances in five consecutive U.S. Opens from 1946 to 1950.

Tringale, a first-team all-American from Georgia Tech, tied for 11th in the 2007 Porter Cup and qualified for the Open in a qualifier held in Georgia.

“It’s definitely exciting. It was nice to qualify,” Tringale said. “I’m definitely looking forward to the experience at the Open.”

Kittleson, a junior from Florida State, was second in the U.S. Amateur and received exemptions for the Open and The Masters.

The excitement just gets the juices flowing for the directors of the Porter Cup, which starts July 21 at NFCC.

“Those guys are all locked down,” Denn said about the quartet. “We’ve got what’s shaping up to be a really great field.”

Contact sports editor Tim Schmitt at 282-2311, ext. 2266.