GOLF:

The dreams of pitch and putt pros and cart barn employees of competing in the U.S. Open are played out on the facilities they work at on a daily basis but usually the dream ends there.

Carlo Borunda is living that fantasy and really doesn’t want to be woken up.

“It’s everybody’s dream to get to this stage,” said Borunda, who is an assistant pro at Newport Beach Country Club. “Last week I was taking tee times and giving lessons.”

This is the second year Borunda has tried to qualify for the nation’s championship and he has taken a step many don’t get to make.

Borunda, who lives in Corona del Mar, got past local qualifying at the course he works. The 35-year-old shot a 69 and then survived a two-hole playoff to advance to the U.S. Open Section Qualifier, June 2 at Lake Merced Country Club in Daly City.

If Borunda finishes in the top four he will earn a spot in this year’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course the week after.

It would be easy to visualize making the Open and being on the driving range with Tiger Woods or practicing his putting next to Phil Mickelson.

Fortunately Borunda has kept his perspective. Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes wrote “The journey is better than the inn” and Borunda’s travels have been unusual when compared to the golfers he will be competing with in a couple of weeks.

There wasn’t much interest in golf when Borunda was growing up in Clovis. The town in the San Joaquin Valley was more known for its western ways rather than an elitist sport. If you wanted to play golf, you couldn’t do it in Clovis, you would have to travel to nearby Fresno to find a course.

Borunda was a wrestler in high school and occasionally would go out with a friend to a local golf course and hit a couple of shots. When he graduated high school he got a job working at a driving range.

It wasn’t to get closer to the sport, though. The money was decent and seemed like a fun gig for a 19-year-old.

“It was just a job,” Borunda said. “It was one of those whims you do when you are young. I had a friend that worked there and he got me the job.”

In between picking up range balls others would hit, Borunda had the chance to hit a few of his own and quickly got hooked on the sport.

“I had the opportunity to pound balls and I did it every chance I got,” Borunda said. “I would hit some on a 15-minute break and come in before work and hit some.”

Borunda got pretty good. He broke par the first year he played and realized he was good at teaching. He entered the profession and five years ago landed at NBCC.

He was satisfied teaching others the game, but still wanted this one chance to taste competition and now it is there before him.

“I am really lucky; I have a lot of support,” Borunda said. “My wife has been great and so have the members.”

While his wife, Yuko, tends to their 1-year-old daughter, Sophia, Borunda has been able to practice more and NBCC club members have helped with expenses.

“It’s nice to be able to focus on just the golf,” he said. “Everyone has been great.”

Now Borunda has a chance to further his experience, though he doesn’t get too far ahead of himself.

“I don’t have any pressure on me,” Borunda said. “I really have no expectations. I’m just enjoying the whole process. Whatever happens is just gravy.”

JOHN REGER’S golf column appears on Thursdays.