Rob Werling knew something was wrong when he hurt so bad he couldn’t play golf.

“Normally, I can play through just about anything as long as I’m playing golf,” Werling said, “because that’s what I like to do.”

While preparing for the City Championship on Friday at Alvamar Golf Course, Werling’s practice round was cut short when the recent KU graduate felt discomfort unlike anything he had felt before.

The pain worsened that night, putting Werling’s status for this weekend’s tournament in jeopardy.

“I couldn’t even stand up,” Werling said. “I was kind of doubled over for 30 minutes. Finally, my girlfriend forced me to go to the hospital, but I didn’t want to go because I wanted to be here (Saturday) morning.”

When Werling arrived at the emergency room around 10 p.m., the doctor concluded that he had appendicitis, which would call for immediate surgery and no golf for two months.

“He was pretty much ready to wheel me into the operating room,” Werling said. “I think I was just a few minutes away from being taken in there.”

But then a final CT scan came in. Werling did not have appendicitis, and he was relieved to find he had a kidney stone.

After taking pain-killing drugs, which also included an IV inserted in his arm, Werling was sent home at 2 a.m. with magic words from his doctor.

“He said, ‘The good news is, you can go home and play golf tomorrow if you’re feeling up to it,'” Werling said.

No doubt the 22-year-old was.

Werling shot a 79 on Saturday, tying him for eighth overall in the championship flight of the City Championships.

“I think the drugs they gave me made me sleep in a little bit longer,” Werling said. “I got here right for my tee time – just a few minutes before. Maybe I didn’t have time to psych myself out and that’s why I played halfway decent.”

Werling recorded one birdie – on the par-4 ninth – and played the last 10 holes at just 1-over par. He said he would rest Saturday night before coming out again for round two at Eagle Bend today.

“I would like to shoot a little better than 79 under normal circumstances,” Werling said, “but I guess under these circumstances, I’m OK with it.”