Notebook | Unknowns Justin Hicks and Kevin Streelman sink in U.S. Open's second round

SAN DIEGO — Justin Hicks scurried around Torrey Pines Golf Course on Friday, his 15 minutes of fame slipping away as he tried so desperately to stay off the clock.

The surprising first-round co-leader at the U.S. Open melted down with a second-round 9-over-par 80 after being told on the first green that his group was running five minutes late and had better pick up the pace.

"You know, having the lead at the U.S. Open is not something I'm used to dealing with on a daily basis, and you accompany that with, 'Oh yeah, you're behind. You need to pick it up,' kind of got me going on a different gear that I wasn't really ready to play in," said the 33-year-old mini-tour veteran.

Before he could catch his breath, Hicks was in the throes of a miserable round that included an astonishing eight bogeys and one double-bogey.

Kevin Streelman, another little-known golfer who shared the 18-hole, one-stroke lead with Hicks, shot a 6-over 77 in the morning.

Streelman went from overnight sensation to insomniac by 2:30 a.m., and his nightmare materialized before his bloodshot eyes just a few hours later.

His triple-bogey on the third hole dropped the PGA Tour rookie and world's 608th-ranked player from the leaderboard and sent him on his way to a 6-over 77 that was also besmirched by two double-bogeys.

As suspected, Streelman had a fitful night's rest, but he didn't blame that for his multitude of mistakes.

His comedown started on the par-3, 195-yard third hole, where his shot landed in the bunker shy of the green. He chipped back on, then three-putted for a 6, bringing him back down to earth and even par.

"I'm happy I hung in for the most part after that," Streelman said.

Thoughts of home

Iowa native Zach Johnson had trouble keeping his mind from wandering away from sunny Southern California during the first two rounds of the U.S. Open.

With his hometown of Cedar Rapids almost entirely under water because of record floods, Johnson said his job seems inconsequential.

Johnson was in Cedar Rapids last weekend before traveling to Torrey Pines, where he shot rounds of 76-74 and missed the 36-hole cut.

In Cedar Rapids, a city of 121,000, the Cedar River overflowed its banks, putting 400 city blocks under water. The downtown hospital has been evacuated.

The businesses of both of Johnson's parents are flooded out, he said.

"When you look at all the situations in the Midwest lately, with the tornadoes, the flooding, and I'm chasing a white ball," he said. "That's perspective right there. I'm very lucky."

Local report

Three golfers with local connections missed the cut.

Kyle Stanley, a Gig Harbor resident who attended Tacoma's Bellarmine Prep, shot a 78 Friday and finished at 8-over 150.

Former Husky Rob Rashell shot a 70 in the second round to finish 9 over, and Washington's Nick Taylor shot a 75 to finish at 10 over.

Other tournament

SAINT-OMER, France — Christian Nilsson shot a 7-under 64 for an overall score of 139 and a two-stroke lead Friday after the second round of the Saint-Omer Open.

The Swede had a bogey-free round, sinking seven birdies in the morning to tie the overnight leader Roope Kakko, who shot a 3-over 74 in the afternoon to drop to third place.

John E. Morgan of England remained second with a 1-over 72, including three bogeys and two birdies for a 141 total.

Bloomberg News and McClatchy newspapers contributed to this report.