With the first round of 2018 U.S. Open being contested on a 37-foot flat lane pattern, most players and knowledgeable observers — including this writer — predicted low scores.
That prediction was well off as 73 of the 144 players averaged 200 or better, the cut line of 36th place was at 1,653 for eight games (206.53 average), and leader Kris Prather totaled 1,823 (227.88 average).
While the scores may have been a surprise, what should have surprised no one was Prather’s...