Giuseppe Puebla was forced play 23 holes on the second day of the U.S. Open, a challenge at any PGA Tour event but even more so at a major played at the difficult Shinnecock Hills Golf Course.
The 17-year-old from Royal Palm Beach had little time between the conclusion of his first round and 9:02 a.m. tee time on June 19. Puebla opened with a birdie on No. 10, finishing the round with a 3-over 73, and a two-day total of 7-over 147.
The cutline was plus-4 when Puebla finished.
Puebla may not be playing on the weekend in his first PGA Tour event but he can take away so many positives having experienced a major championship as one of the two youngest players in the field, joining Jacksonville Beach’s Miles Russell.
Russell and Puebla are ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the American Junior Golf Association rankings.
Puebla carded seven birdies in his two rounds, including No. 17 in the first round when he rolled in a 30-foot putt; and on his final hole, the par-4 No. 9, after his second shot landed 6-feet from the hole.
Among the professionals Puebla beat were several players ranked in the top 75 in the world including No. 43 Jake Knapp (+8), No. 33 and 2023 European Ryder Cup member Nicolai Hojgaard (+9), No. 42 Alex Smalley (+9), No. 66 Harry Hall (+11), No. 53 Matt McCarty (+12) and No. 71 Matti Schmidt (+14).
The event marked another milestone for Puebla. He is the first golfer in a major championship to feature the Chipotle logo on his hat after finalizing a deal with the Mexican restaurant chain.
Giuseppe Puebla’s first round at U.S. Open suspended
Puebla’s introduction to the PGA Tour was delayed two hours because of fog. He teed off around 4:45 p.m. June 18 and then had to sleep on a round that was just more than two-thirds complete after running out of daylight.
A birdie-bogey finish to the first round capped an opening round 74.
The Florida Gators commit went right back out for his second round and opened by rolling in a 14-footer for birdie on the 10th hole. His second round included five burdies and eight bogeys.
Puebla was one of four players at Shinnecock Hills from Florida’s U.S. Open qualifier at BellenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens. He finished 7-under (69-68) in “Golf’s Longest Day” on June 8, tying PGA Tour veteran Ben Silverman for first place.
Puebla’s family, which runs Mario the Baker, an Italian restaurant in Royal Palm Beach, was in Southampton lending their support and to witness this historical moment for Giuseppe.
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Royal Palm Beach’s Giuseppe Puebla misses cut at U.S. Open at 7 over
Reporting by Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tom D'Angelo, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
