GREENBRIER CLASSIC: Muscari ‘confident’ entering pre-qualifier

June 26--CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Evan Muscari hopes his recent string of outstanding play carries into today's Greenbrier Classic pre-qualifier at the Resort at Glade Springs.

After all, his knowledge of the resort's Cobb Course is unmatched.

"My brother (Kyle) owns a house right off No. 2," Muscari said. "I just grab his golf cart and go."

That could prove to be a small consolation for the former Wyoming East basketball star. The pre-qualifier has 120 entrants for just 40 players who will move to Monday's open qualifier.

Muscari's brother graduate from Wyoming East High School in 2005 -- five years before Evan, who graduated from Concord University this year and is headed to medical school.

For Evan's part, he was an All-State basketball player who helped the Warriors win back-to-back Class AA state titles (2008-09).

He's coaching in the summer for Wyoming East between getting in practice rounds and competing.

His time committed to the basketball court hasn't hurt his golf game. Evan Muscari was the medalist at the U.S. Open local qualifier at Edgewood Country Club on May 14. His performance at the sectional qualifier in Springfield, Ohio, didn't turn out so well with a 19-over 159.

"I surprised myself (with my play at the local qualifier)," said Muscari, who gives most of the credit to his recent solid play to his swing coach in Hilton Head, Doug Weaver. "I didn't think I played very well, but I scored well. The pins were tough, the greens were tough. I didn't struggle with the greens. It helped that I played the super regionals for college. It had a lot of the same pin placements. I birdied three of my last four holes."

After struggling in Springfield, he rebounded nicely with a second-place finish at the State Amateur Championship, finishing second behind Hurricane's Brian Anania. Anania's win earned him an exemption into the Greenbrier Classic.

"It would be cool to have two local guys in the Greenbrier Classic," said Muscari, fully aware that it hasn't happened since the Classic debuted at the Old White TPC in 2010.

Among the area players against whom Muscari will be competing on Thursday are Kermit's Davey Jude, Parkersburg'sKenneth Hess, Buckhannon'sJeremy Rogers, Bridgeport'sJustin Caroli, Freeman'sJohn Ross, Parkersburg'sAlan Cooke and Huntington'sJosh Holmes.

Muscari's advantage lies with his knowledge of the 7,151-yard, par 72 Cobb Course.

"My brother lives at Glade now," Muscari said. "I'm there pretty much every day. I know what every putt does, what every chip does. I've seen every hole location they can probably put."

No matter how well Evan Muscari plays, he's reluctant to say he'll turn pro because of the demands and the cost.

"Medical school is a little more guaranteed," said Muscari, despite his need for student loans. "It's not probable (I'll turn pro), but it's possible."

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ONE PLAYER missing from the pre-qualifier for the first time will be Bakerton'sDavid Bradshaw.

Bradshaw has played in four Monday qualifier playoffs, barely missing a spot in the Greenbrier Classic.

This year he'll be playing in the Frank B. Fuhrer Jr. Invitational at the Pittsburgh Field Club, a tournament he won two years ago.

However, the three-day Fuhrer Invitational is being played June 30 (the day of the Monday qualifier) through July 2 -- the day before players tee off for the Greenbrier Classic.

Bradshaw has been keeping busy, competing on the Canadian PGA Tour and his "share of E-golf events."

He qualified for one PGA Tour event this year, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at the TPC Louisiana April 24-27. His two-round score was 151, as he missed the cut by 11 strokes.

Bradshaw did indicate that he'll be playing in the State Open Championship, a tournament he has won seven times.

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SEVERAL PLAYERS already have signed up for the Monday qualifier. Members of the PGA Tour and Web.com Tour can bypass the pre-qualifier and enter the Monday qualifier.

Among them is Frank Lickliter, who played on the PGA Tour in 1996 and won two events -- Kemper Insurance Open in 2001 and the Chrysler Classic of Tucson in 2003.

Last year's Monday qualifier medalist was Pittsburgh's Daniel Obremski, who set the Cobb course record with a 9-under 62.

Contact Assistant Sports Editor Rich Stevens at [email protected] or 304-348-4837. Follow him on Twitter @richdailymail

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