Steady rise brings Quinney a big date with Mickelson

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PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. --- So what if he's now 0-2 in hole-in-one celebrations?

Jeff Quinney's ace was the highlight of his third-round 67. (Dunn/WireImage)

Inside the Numbers

Quinney thru 54 Holes

Category Total Rank Eagles 1 T1 Birdies 13 T6 Pars 35 T27 Bogeys 5 T74 Double Bogeys 0 N/A Other 0 N/A Driving Accuracy 69.0% 8 Driving Distance 299.0 yds. T18 Greens in Regulation 70.4% T2 Putts per Round 27.7 T23 Putts per GIR 1.632 7 Sand Saves 0.0 T67

The way Jeff Quinney is playing this week at the Northern Trust Open, he just might have something much bigger to celebrate late Sunday afternoon.

The 29-year-old from Oregon used his ace and Saturday's subsequent 67 to move into position for his first PGA TOUR victory. Quinney will start the final round at 10 under and one stroke off the pace set by Phil Mickelson.

The hole-in-one at No. 6 was the second for Quinney in as many years on TOUR. He used a 7-iron and listened anxiously from the tee while the cheers reached a crescendo as the ball sucked back into the hole. Then came the dilemma as he raced toward his caddy.

"You don't know whether to hug or high five," said a grinning Quinney, who did not actually see the ball trickle into the cup. "(It) probably just looks sloppy. Adrenaline goes through your system. It's an amazing feeling.

"It was almost like a touchdown end zone dance, but basically we need to get that organized with my caddy and plan a little bit better."

Regardless of whether he had all the right moves choreographed, the ace from 163 yards out vaulted Quinney briefly into the lead at 10 under. When they reached the green, though, Mickelson responded by sinking an 8-footer to pull into a tie that he later broke for good with another birdie at the par-5 11th.

The hole-in-one was the 30th at the Northern Trust Open in the past 25 years. Only one player, T.C. Chen, has gone on to win, though -- beating Ben Crenshaw in a one-hole playoff in 1987. Chen also aced the sixth hole.

Quinney admitted to being a little nervous as he began the third round, paired with his fellow Arizona State Sun Devil and Scott McCarron in the day's final group. A birdie at the fifth hole, followed by the ace, had a calming affect on him, though.

"(They) actually settled me down a little bit," Quinney said. "(It) almost put me down a level and put me in a zone and I was really at ease the rest of the day."

Quinney finished off his round with a flourish, draining a birdie putt from 35 feet at the 18th hole to inch closer to Mickelson. He hadn't been particularly pleased with the 9-iron approach that carried downwind well past the flagstick, though.

"I was just trying to snuggle it down there so I wouldn't have to worry about the second putt, and luckily (it) went, perfect speed, right in the center," he said. "It's definitely always nice to sleep on a birdie ... Getting one back and one shot closer to Phil is great."

Quinney and Mickelson have played some practice rounds together, but Saturday was their first date in actual competition. Mickelson is eight years older, but they know a lot of the same people from their Arizona State days.

"We definitely talked a lot of sports today," Quinney said. "We were talking about the Phoenix Suns and how Shaq's coming in. We both might be at that Lakers game on Wednesday."

"We're both looking forward to his debut Wednesday," Mickelson agreed.

Another thing the two men have in common is a U.S. Amateur title. While Mickelson won the 1991 Northern Telecom Open while he was still in college, though, Quinney's ascent to the PGA TOUR has been more gradual.

Quinney, whose three brothers all played at the Division I level in various sports, calls himself a "raw product" when he entered Arizona State. He made steady progress after he traded in Oregon weather for the desert, though.

More recently, Quinney has worked with his teacher, Mike LaBauve, to develop a more consistent swing. He was a very hands and timing-oriented player, and together the two have simplified that swing to one better suited to hold up to pressure.

"My whole career is just building like a house or building bricks," he said. "Basically I've gotten better every year, even on the professional level from the Canadian Tour my first year out to (the) Nationwide (Tour to) last year.

"I feel like I'm the best player I've ever been and more confident and complete player right now."

Mickelson agreed.

"I've been impressed with his career because I've watched it as he's grown, and every year he's gotten better," Mickelson said. "Every year he's improved, and I think he's going to be a successful player on the PGA TOUR.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing with him tomorrow in the final round and trying to win a golf tournament."

Quinney had several chances to win as a rookie last year -- including at the FBR Open where he took a two-stroke lead into the final round and eventually settled for third behind his Scottsdale neighbor Aaron Baddeley.

Quinney views that experience -- which was the third of four straight top-10s last year -- as another building block as he lays the foundation of his career. And he'd like nothing better to raise the roof come Sunday.

"I don't know if I'm due," he said. "You know, I just definitely want to have a chance coming in tomorrow. Obviously playing against I don't know what Phil is ranked, (a) top-5 player in the world. He's going to bring a lot ... and I've got to bring my best to the table tomorrow.

"He's definitely not going to hand it to me. I've got to go out and earn it."