Cordevalle’s Bob Marshall has plenty on his plate to get the course ready for the US Women’s Open next month.
But this week he dropped all of that and flew out to Oakmont, Penn., for the men’s US Open. With just weeks to go before the Director of Golf Operations and Maintenance has to get ready for the first time the Bay Area will host the prestigious women’s tournament, he flew out to watch his son play.
Matt Marshall qualified for the US Open, which started Thursday, thanks to a tense playoff round after all but giving up on his dream to play in the PGA Tour.
Matt teed off at 11:31 a.m. Thursday with his mother and father on hand.
“This is a surreal experience,” Matt said from Pennsylvania. “I earned opportunity to be here and I’m trying feel like I belong. After few practice rounds, I’m definitely feeling more comfortable here.”
Bob took on the task of preparing Cordevalle for the US Women’s Open in January when his company, OB Sports, took on the maintenance duties for the tournament.
In fact because of all the rain in the area this winter, Bob said he was delayed in getting ready because they couldn’t do much work on the course in the wet weather.
So while his son competed at the Vancouver, Wash., Sectional, Bob was at Cordevalle.
He got updates from his wife telling him how their son was doing.
After 36 holes, Matt was tied at 6-under against 19-year-old Austin Connelly.
They played a three-hole playoff where both players remained tied after two holes.
That’s when Connelly three-putted and Marshall was able to clinch the third and final spot out of the qualifier.
“My wife texted me ‘he made it’ with a bunch of exclamation marks. We just celebrated,” Bob said.
Bob felt a little guilty for leaving his post at Cordevalle but everyone there said it wasn’t even a question.
“We’re just so busy getting ready for the Women’s Open,” Bob said. “I should be at Cordevalle helping, but the guys all said ‘you’re going.”
Matt, a graduate of Saratoga High School, went on to UC Davis where he competed on the golf team.
After college, he attempted to get on the PGA, competing in Canada and going through Q School.
He did compete in the Frys.com Open in 2012 and 2013, which was held at Cordevalle.
Eventually Matt got a job as an assistant golf pro at the Portland Golf Club thinking his chance at the pros might be over.
“I got burned out on game but I still enjoyed it and wanted to have a way to keep my game fresh,” Matt said.
He said it was always a dream of his to play in the US Open and was elated when he got his chance.
He had to borrow $175 from his parents for the entry fee, but called it “a good investment.”
Now Matt has a locker two spots down from Rory McIlroy.
Bob said he just can’t get over what an opportunity his son has.
“He’s just worked so hard and finally it’s nice have something go your way,” Bob said. “I’m just really, really excited for him.”
