Skid notwithstanding, Marino’s effort has been noteworthy

Back-to-back 6s in yesterday's third round - the first a triple bogey, the second a double - may have effectively knocked Steve Marino out of contention in the British Open at Turnberry, Scotland.

The former University of Virginia standout, who was a late addition to the field, enters today's final round in a four-way tie for 10th, five shots behind leader Tom Watson. But no matter where Marino finishes, his performance in his first British Open has been remarkable, says his former coach at U.Va.

"Even as well as I know Steve and as much as I love the kid and respect his game and believe that he can do anything, it really is pretty shocking," Mike Moraghan said yesterday. "To go over there, never having played links golf and never having played in the British Open, and to play the way he played in the first two rounds is a really amazing accomplishment.

"It's just such a hard thing to adapt to, the wind and the ground. The whole time you play in the U.S., you're playing through the air. You're flying the ball and throwing darts and hitting the targets. And you get over there, the first thing you've got to do is hit it lower to keep it under the wind, and you gotta play the ground, you gotta play the surface, you gotta play the bounces. It's just something that's not easy to adapt to and takes some time to adapt to."

Marino, 29, entered the third round tied for the lead with the legendary Watson, and they were paired together yesterday. Marino, who followed his opening-round 67 with a 68, shot 76 after closing with back-to-back birdies.

As a senior at W.T. Woodson High in Fairfax, Marino won the state Group AAA title. In college, he had "a very good, solid career," said Moraghan, now an executive producer in video services for U.Va. athletics.

"He was always in our starting lineup his entire four years. Late in his junior year, he made huge strides, and then his senior year, he was all-ACC and one of the best players in the country."

Marino still is seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, but he's won consistently at every other level he's played, and Moraghan believes a breakthrough is inevitable.

"Steve's always been a guy who can get hot," Moraghan said. "He can shoot mid-60s on any golf course in the world, he can really take it low, and that's a great asset to have. And when he gets hot, he can stay hot for several days. Not everybody can do that."

Marino has two second-place and two third-place finishes on the PGA Tour. He entered the British Open with 2009 earnings of nearly $1.5 million (27th place).

"There's so many positives to him," Moraghan said. "He's a happy-go-lucky guy who also has a serious side. So he can appear free and easy and relaxed, which he is. But he's also such a competitor. . . . He's really like the perfect blend of a guy who's never so intense he gets in his own way, but he really enjoys it and can really compete."

Contact Jeff White at (804) 649-6838