Wesley Hunter is Looking for his Next Shot

Michelle McClung approached her son, Wesley Hunter, in the parking lot. She didn't know what to say, because there was nothing to say. 

"What would you like for dinner?" was all she could muster. 

"I don't care,” Hunter replied. “I might just drink some bleach. 

For 34 holes, the dream of making it to the U.S. Open was at Hunter's fingertips. He was in the same group with and going toe-to-toe with Gordon Sargent, one of the best amateurs in the world. 

On the 35th hole of the 36-qualifier at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Round, Ga., Hunter lined up an eight-foot putt for par. Because he was sitting just one back of the qualifying number, it was a must-make. As the ball curled toward the cup, it looked like it would drop. Instead, It lipped out. 

The dream was over. After the round and back in the parking lot, Hunter put his hat over his face as his mom hugged him. Behind it, his eyes filled with tears. Grinding on the mini-tours for six years can take its toll; once again, he had fallen just short. 

Last Monday, as we do every year, we celebrated the fantastic stories of those who played their way into the U.S. Open. This year was no different. J.J. Grey, who writes initials on his ball before each round in memory of a best friend lost too soon, will play in the U.S. Open. Berry Henson, a part-time Uber driver and full-time world traveler, is still chasing his dream. Finally, 20 years after turning pro, Henson will have a tee time in his first major on Thursday at Los Angeles Country Club. Olin Browne Jr., Austen Truslow, Jesse Schutte—the list goes on. Those stories should be celebrated (and here at Monday Q Infio we will highlight some of those as the week goes on), but there is another side to the story. Stories like Wesley Hunter's. 

Hunter grew up in a single-parent home in Mobile, Ala. Michelle, a school superintendent, would drop him off at the golf course every day during the summer. His high school had a golf team only because Hunter recruited his friends to play. In his senior year, St. Luke’s Episcopal School won the state championship. He won the individual state championship,, that same year Robbie Shelton won the individual state title in a different division, Shelton would became a good friend and is now a PGA Tour member. Hunter got only a few college offers, but he had a great career at Spring Hill College in Mobile. After college, he turned pro and started grinding on mini-tours most have never heard of. 

Hunter, like many pros, has had too many near misses and not enough successes over the past six years. In 2019 he triple-bogeyed the 72nd hole to miss exempt status on the Canadian Tour. However, he got into the first event of the year on his conditional status, only to miss the cut by one. He played the next three Monday Qs and missed qualifying by a combined four strokes. He kept at it and Monday'd into the next event. He missed the cut by one. "This game just kicks you in the dick over and over again," Hunter says. 

One time at Q school, Hunter came to the 71st hole inside the number to get through to the next stage. On the 230-yard par-3 at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, he missed the green just left. Having played the course numerous times, he knew his ball was either in the rough or the bunker. Hunter never thought for a second it might be lost, never even considered hitting a provisional; there was no real trouble where he had hit it. Yet, even with the assistance of several others, the ball was never found. Double-bogey. Another miss. "It is the only other time I saw him cry," his mom told me. "You just want what is best for your kids; it is so hard to see them hurt." 

In late April, Hunter had another glimmer of hope, only to experience another crushing defeat. He played in a Korn Ferry Tour Monday qualifier. It was within driving distance in his home state and on a course he knew well, so he decided the $500 entry fee would be a good investment. Although his round started slowly, Hunter caught fire on the back nine. He made six birdies, shot 29, and posted a seven-under-par 64. It earned him a spot in a five-for-two playoff. On the first hole, he made par. Two players made a birdie. Hunter would have to wait to make his first Korn Ferry start.

"It did give me a ton of confidence," Hunter said of his near miss, which came with final qualifying for the U.S. Open looming. When the pairings were announced, Hunter got excited. He was paired with Sargent, a star at Vanderbilt. The two were friendly with each other, as they have played golf together at Shoal Creek Club outside Birmingham, where they both have playing privileges. Unlike some pros, Hunter thrives on having a gallery follow him, and he knew cameras from Golf Channel would be following Sargent. An invitation to the U.S. Open was 36 holes away. 

Sure enough, the Golf Channel cameras were there. The gallery grew to as many as 60, and just like he said, Hunter thrived in the spotlight. He was almost flawless in his opening 18 as he matched shots with Sargent, who made two eagles and five birdies and led the field after a 64. Hunter, meanwhile, made eight birdies along with a lone bogey to sit third after a 65. (Andy Ogletree also opened with a 64.) He was in position to grab one of the three qualifying spots at the site. 

On the second 18, Sargent again opened with a birdie, and Hunter again matched him. Sargent pulled away by a few strokes, but Hunter was still inside the number after a birdie on the 34th hole. Then came the lipped-out par putt, and the end of the dream. 

After he signed his card, he sat alone in scoring. He was staring straight ahead—at nothing. He had played well enough to get into a playoff for the second alternate spot, but he and the others knew they had almost zero chance of getting into the U.S. Open. One of the players didn't even show up. Hunter was knocked out on the first hole, officially ending even his slim chance. 

In the parking lot, Michelle posed the dinner question. Hunter pulled his hat over his eyes and cried. After that, he thanked John Plocic, CEO of Yardforce, who sometimes helps him financially. The two shook hands, and that’s when Hunter lost it. This is the other side of final qualifying for the U.S. Open.

Hunter didn't sleep that night. "I just laid in bed and wondered when this game would give me a break," he says. When we talked four days later, he said he was still devastated. 

The next day he was signed up for an event on the Rolling Red Tour, a circuit on which Hunter has kept his career afloat, as he can drive to most events and has played well enough to keep some money in the bank. However, that was the last place he wanted to be. He wasn’t crazy about making the nearly three-hour drive for a 10-player mini-tour event. But the balance in his bank account was also down to $300. He dragged himself out of bed, and Plosic, who agreed to caddie for him, drove him to the event. 

An exhausted Hunter pieced together a 69 and won, collecting the much-needed $2,000 winner’s check. Over the next two days, he played another Rolling Red Tour event, shot 69-66, finished second and collected $2,500.

The 2023 U.S. Open will go on without Wesley Hunter, but he will watch. "It will hurt, knowing I was so close,” he says. “I know I can get there, but you never know if you will have another chance."

The 2024 U.S. Open will be played at Pinehurst No. 2, close enough that Hunter could probably drive there. Final qualifying is 51 weeks away.