Living the life of Weiler

Writing from Glenview, Illinois

Friday, July 26, 2024

Joe Weiler can’t stop smiling these days.

His opening two rounds of the WGA-sponsored NV5 Invitational at The Glen Club has put him near the top at 14-under-par 128 going into the weekend. Only Ryan Gerard, whose 10-under 61 on Friday is the best round of the tournament thus far, is ahead of him, three strokes to the good at 17-under 125.

Gerard’s 61 bested morning showman Tano Goya of Argentina, who blistered the Tom Fazio-designed layout with a 9-under 62, including a front-nine 28.

Weiler will worry about the math later. The other reason for his smile: He’s a newlywed.

“July 5 (was the ceremony), so there’s a lot of good things happening outside of golf that makes it a fun time. Things are happening that make golf even easier and less pressured. That’s super helpful.

“It was a great day. Me and Sophie were super-excited.”

Weiler came into the week 69th in the Korn Ferry Tour standings. The top 30 at the end of the season advance to the PGA Tour. The Korn Ferry numbers crunchers say he’d jump to 20th if he wins this week.

“There’s still so much golf left,” Weiler said. “I’m at a better spot than I was this time last year. It takes one or two weeks to change your entire year. And I’m playing a lot different golf.

“I have way more control of my golf ball. I feel I have a good idea of what I’m doing when I get here on a Monday or a Tuesday. I know what I need to be doing to get better for the week. At times I was searching last year.”

Friday’s highlight came in the middle of his round. He played the back nine first, in 2-under 33, put his tee shot on No. 1 on the right side of the fairway, then slammed a 3-wood 268 yards uphill to, by his estimation, within a foot of the cup.

“I probably brushed the hole a little bit,” Weiler said.

While the albatross failed to land, the eagle was a gimme, and with with six birdies to offset a pair of bogeys, buttressing the opening 63 with a 65 added up not only to 128, but a good feeling.

Another aid to Weiler is being a second-year tourist. He’s previously been to most of the courses he’s played this year. Familiarity, in this case, breeds contentment.

“I don’t feel I even have to play 18 holes before I play on Thursday,” Weiler said. “I would like to but if I want to take a Monday or Tuesday off, I can do that. It’s nice to have some regularity, knowing where the range, the putting green, the first tee is.”

He’d not seen The Glen Club until last year, when he tied for 21st, but growing up in Bloomington, Ind., and going to Purdue means he knows Midwest golf.

“For some reason, Midwest golf does favor me,” Weiler said. “This is a hidden gem.”

Around The Glen Club

Dawson Armstrong has been on and off the Korn Ferry Tour since 2020, but had to Monday qualify his way into the NV5. The 2015 Western Amateur winner scored 5-under 137 with rounds of 69-67–137 but missed the cut, which fell at 6-under 136. Armstrong made five cuts in his previous 16 starts. … Brad Hopfinger, who won at Illinois Open at The Glen Club, also missed advancing by a stroke thanks to a bogey at his last hole, the par-3 ninth. … Curtis Thompson, the 2020 winner at Chicago Highlands, went from one off the lead to rolling down the highway on Friday, adding a 6-over 77 to his opening 7-under 64. An aggregate of 1-under 141 doesn’t cut it on this tour. The cut brought 75 players into the weekend dash for cash for the $1 million purse, of which $180,000 is handed the winner. … Last year’s Western Amateur champion, Kazuma Kobori, scored 6-under 136 to make it on the number thanks to Friday’s sparkling 7-under 64. He’s already eligible to play on the DP World Tour thanks to his success on the Australasia Tour, but came here on the sponsor exemption awarded for winning last year at North Shore Country Club.

– Tim Cronin