Amateur power hour

Cusack shot a 2-over 144 on the 6,653-yard, par-71 layout to beat two-time medalist Benjamin Sumulong by three shots in the 36-hole event.

Cusack, 29, only used his driver twice on the final nine holes, electing to tee off with irons and hybrids on the others, but still hit the ball as far or farther than his playing partners, who were using drivers.

"It definitely wasn't a fluke for Casey to win," said USGA representative Greg Sanders. "It's hard to compete with power."

While Cusack overwhelmed the course, he said he wasn't hitting the ball quite as straight as he would have liked.

"I started really hooking it today, so I had to play for it," said Cusack. He explained his usual shot is a draw, but found his shots moving more dramatically right to left than usual.

Cusack controlled the ball well enough to win his first Public Links qualifier in three tries, then politely turned down the invitation to play in the national Public Links tournament July 12-17 at Bryan Park Golf Course in Greensboro, N.C.

The Alaska State Amateur takes place July 8-11 and the scheduling conflict forced Cusack to make a choice -- he is the defending state amateur champion and said he wouldn't miss the local event.

With Cusack declining, the invitation passed to Sumulong, the 2009 and 2007 Pub Links champ.

Sumulong, a 53-year-old commercial loan officer who shot 73-74--147, said this event is the only time he plays 36 holes in one day.

"Why hurt yourself if you don't have to, right?" he said.

He said the course was in the best shape he has ever seen it, and his three three-putts in the second round were his downfall.

Sumulong wasn't the only player in the nine-man field to feel the effects of a long day on the course.

"I should have quit at lunch time," said Richard Teders, a 42-year-old in the commercial printing business who shot 76-86--162. "Unfortunately, I am getting too old for this."

"I ran out of steam at the end," said Kevin Daniels, 20, who finished third with 72-77--149.

Daniels, a communications major at American International College in Springfield, Mass, and a former Anchorage junior golf standout from South High, said he plans to accept the invitation to play in the national Public Links if Sumulong is unable to go.

Sanders said Cusack would be the state's best representative at the national event because he has the power to compete on the long, championship course, but that Daniels is a good college player with decent power.

Cusack's long hitting got him to 2-under through his first nine holes with birdies on the par-5 first hole and par-5 fifth. He shot 41 on his second nine with a triple bogey on the par-4 16th.

An eagle on the 520-yard, par-5 fifth helped Cusack rebound with a 2-under-par 33 on his second trip around the front nine. He made bogey on the 10th, but followed with eight consecutive pars to close a 1-under 70 -- Eagleglen usually plays to par 72, but the 454-yard third hole that normally plays as a par 5 is a par 4 in Pub Links.

Daniels, who played with Cusack both rounds, beat him by two shots in the first round but found himself behind by three shots when he made the turn toward the final nine.

Daniels made five consecutive pars before dumping a shot into the water hazard and making double bogey on the 544-yard, par-5 15th. Cusack made an easy par on the hole and cruised to victory.

"He could have shot 65 if he would have made a few putts," said Daniels.

Find Jeremy Peters online at adn.com/contact/jpeters or call 257-4335.