A year ago, Marty Jeppesen was a star-struck college golfer wowed by the competitive field that surrounded him at Brookside Golf and Country Club.

He surveyed the driving range, discovering a Who's Who of PGA household names - like himself - hoping to play their way into the U.S. Open.

Jeppesen, a 2006 Saline High School graduate, failed to qualify at the sectional tournament - the second qualifying stage for the U.S. Open field. The experience proved to be more of a valuable lesson than a one-time shot at the big time.

On Monday, the former Eastern Michigan standout gets a second chance. This time, he's much more prepared.

Jeppesen returns to Brookside located in suburban Columbus, Ohio, and tees off at 7:10 a.m., playing in a three-man group that includes Aaron Baddeley, who has made the cut in eight of the 11 PGA Tour events he's played in this year.

The group in front of Jeppesen includes Davis Love III, one of several PGA notables hoping to earn a spot in the U.S. Open, which will be played at Pebble Beach later this month.

A year after wading through the grueling, one-day, 36-hole sectional qualifier, Jeppesen has shifted his focus from the faces around him onto his own chances of grabbing one of 22 open spots.

"When I see 22 spots, I just think if I have a good day, I'm going to make it," said Jeppesen, one of 144 golfers at the Brookside site vying for a spot in Open field. "I can compete against those guys. I know I can."

Jeppesen will be more relaxed than last year, when, after beginning 4-under after 13 holes, he finished with two rounds of 72 on Brookside's old-school country club layout to finish the day with a 144.

He admits to thinking ahead last year, picturing himself in the U.S. Open field rather than dedicating himself to hitting shots needed to back up his solid start.

Jeppesen insists this year will be different. 

"I'm better prepared and now it's just a matter of whether I show up that day," Jeppesen said. "I have to be smarter on the course and be able to handle being under par or playing with a little more pressure than normal."

He recently made the Division I Ping All-Region team after posting a 73.2 per round average. Jeppesen's driving ability sets him up well for Brookside's 6,669-yard layout. Over the past year, he has improved his ball flight and distance control while also shoring up his short game.

Although he's still got a lot of work to do before he's able to add his name to the Pebble Beach field, Jeppesen believes he's ready to take his game to the next level. Jeppesen is already in a select field that includes former U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate and believes with one solid day, he could find himself preparing for his first PGA event.

"He loves the big stage and so the tougher the course, the tougher the condition, the longer the course, the better," Eastern Michigan coach Bruce Cunningham said. "As the competitions get bigger and more severe, his game is able to withstand that.

"All the things they use to separate the field, that actually helps Marty and that's when his game gets better."

Jeff Arnold covers sports for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by email at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.