Amateurs flirt with leader board

Surrounded by golfers with decals of sponsors from head to toe, Cheng-Tsung Pan wore his modest University of Washington gear. Pan is competing among the professionals this week, even if he is not yet a pro.

Pan, who is from Taiwan and is one 10 amateurs in the U.S. Open field at Merion Golf Club this week, was near the top of the leader board early on Thursday before bogeying three consecutive holes on his way to a 2-over-par finish.

One group earlier, Kevin Phelan finished 1-over par. An Ireland native who is from the University of North Florida, Phelan was also in the red for part of the afternoon. Two American amateurs - Gavin Hall and Chris Williams - were 1-under par when play was suspended Thursday night. And three other amateurs finished 2-over par with Pan.

"The gap between amateur and pro, I think it's getting smaller," Pan said. "As an amateur, we get more chances, more opportunities at professional events. From those experiences, we get better."

Both Phelan and Pan have competed in the U.S. Open before. Both missed the cut. They're hoping that can change this year, although that will require them to play more like they did early in their round (they both started on No. 11) than in their back stretch.

Pan did not bring any relatives to the area because he wants to keep a small group so he can focus better. He brought more people the last time he competed in the U.S. Open, and having a smaller group allowed him to remain focused.

"That was my first time. . . . I felt kind of overexcited," Pan said. "My emotions were up and down so much, and I think that did affect my scores. This time, I feel more mature because I'm a veteran. I have a better mind-set, and I play better."

Phelan, 22, said the nerves this year were before he started, and he was able to settle down once he was on the course. He already answers questions like a seasoned golfer, insisting that he focuses on one shot at a time. But Phelan insisted it's not just lip service and is a requirement on a course as challenging as Merion. A strong performance, he said, "certainly can't hurt" his stock when he eventually turns pro.

Pan, a sophomore at Washington, enjoys college and is in no rush to turn pro. He will be the first member of his family who will earn a college degree, and would like to stay an amateur through college unless anything drastic is offered.

They're both enjoying their experiences at Merion. Pan played nine holes on Wednesday with Luke Donald, who is his favorite golfer. (Pan did not share this information with Donald.) Phelan played with Adam Scott on Wednesday and even received advice from the Masters champion.

"I don't really compare myself too much," Phelan said of how he measures with the pros. "I try to stick to my own game."

The amateur scores were a nice story Thursday, but the pack starts separating as the tournament progresses. That will determine whether they miss the cut or potentially see their names on the scoreboard, like Pan did early in his round Thursday.

"When I look at the scoreboard, my last name's up there," Pan said, "and that's pretty cool to see myself."