Day 2 of the U.S. Open: Sisk ekes in to the weekend;
 Sokol struggles on final 9, June 19^th
by Dominic Dastoli
 

            Southampton, NY-For Cleveland Golf Tour stars Geoff Sisk and Steve Sokol, the second round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills was defined by their performances on their final nine holes. Geoff Sisk, hovering around the cut line all day, birdied his last hole of the day, the short, par 4 9^th, to squeeze into the weekend by two shots at 4-over par 144 (72-72). Steve Sokol, unable to build upon a solid 1-under through eight start, played his final nine holes in 9-over par and was on the outside looking in with a two day total of 14-over par 152 (75-79).

            Teeing off at 7:10, Sisk finished his round before many players even teed off. Standing on the 9^th tee box at 5-over par, it was not known whether he needed par or birdie to ensure his second made cut in four open appearances. His closing birdie eliminated all doubt, though, and left him in a tie for 46^th place with a slew of players, including J.J. Henry, older brother of Cleveland Golf Tour star Kevin Henry.

            Through 36 holes, only 11 players are under par, and Sisk is definitely capable of making a weekend a run on a course which demands accurate driving and clutch putting, two of his strongest attributes.

            As the course begins to dry out and firm up, Sisk’s success in the final two rounds lies firmly on whether or not he consistently finds the fairway and avoids the momentum derailing high number, something so many high profile names were not able to do on their way to an abrupt departure from famed Shinnecock Hills.