2018 U.S. Open Local Qualifying Roundup

May 18, 2018 | by Chris Brauner of AmateurGolf.com

8537 pro and amateur golfers competed for 500 spots across 112 local qualifying sites; here is who has advanced to sectionals

VARIOUS SITES, USA - U.S. Open qualifying is underway, as golfers from across the country and across the world try to punch their ticket to the 118th U.S. Open Championship in June at Shinnecock Hills GC in Southampton, N.Y.

A total of 8537 professional and amateur golfers are competing for 500 spots across 112 local qualifying sites. Successful qualifiers move on to one of 12 sectional qualifying sites--ten in the U.S., one in England and one in Japan.

Highlights from local qualifying include:

April 30


Andy Ogletree	S.M. Lee

Georgia Tech sophomore Andy Ogletree (Little Rock, MS) and Dalton State sophomore S.M. Lee (Buford, GA) became the first two amateurs to advance to Sectional qualifying. Ogletree shot a 67 at Marietta CC in Kennesaw, GA to share medalist honors with two professionals, while Lee shot a 69 and then had to return to the course the next morning, advancing from a 6-for-3 playoff.

At the Plano, TX qualifier, amateurs took the top four spots, with UT-Arlington senior Aaron Guanlao (Haslet, TX) medaling by three shots with a 66 at Gleneagles Country Club. Three other college players--Braden Bailey (Baylor), Blaine Hale (Oklahoma), and Drew Jones (Texas)--also advanced, as did high schooler Turner Hosch.

May 1

Current University of New Mexico senior Gus Morantes and UNM alum Chandler Smith-Stetson shared medalist honors at the University of New Mexico Championship Course in Albuquerque, with rounds of 71.

May 6

Chris Stutts (Kihei, HI) is a reinstated amateur who once competed on the forerunner of the Web.com Tour and who founded the Gateway Tour. Now living in Hawaii, the vice president of sales at the Makena Golf and Beach Club shot a 70 at Ka'anapali (Royal) Golf Course to take one of two spots at the Lahaina, HI qualifier.

May 7


John Augenstein	Dylan Meyer

Vanderbilt sophomore John Augenstein and University of Illinois senior Dylan Meyer took the top two spots at the St. Louis, MO qualifier, shooting 66 and 68 respectively at Old Warson Country Club. Both players are gearing up for next week's NCAA Regionals. Grant Milling (Bloomington, IL) took the final spot in a 4-for-1 playoff after a 71.

Erik Brubaker (Delmar, MD) punched his ticket to the Sectional round after coming out on top of a 3-for-1 playoff at Hidden Creek GC in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. He two putted for par on the third playoff hole, Hidden Creek’s finisher (par 4, 429 yards), to earn the berth over GAP amateurs Kevin Smith (first alternate) and Daniel Charen (second alternate). All three players shot 72 in regulation.

Tyson Turchanski, a third-year player at the University of Waterloo in Canada, was the lone amateur to advance from the Toronto, Canada qualifier.


Josh Gliege	Grant Schroeder

At the Houston, TX qualifier where it took 5-under 67 just to qualify, Texas A&M University sophomore Josh Gliege (Eagle, ID) shot a 64 to medal by one shot. Grant Schroeder (Montgomery, TX) was the other amateur to advance, shooting 67 to advance to the Sectional.

Mitchell Meissner, a senior at Rice University coming off of a win at the Conference USA Championship, shot a 66 at The Club at Comanche Trace to share medalist honors at the Kerrville, TX qualifier.

Amateurs took three of the six spots at the Kent, WA qualifier, with University of Washington freshman Noah Woolsey (Pleasanton, CA) leading the field with a 6-under 66 at Meridian Valley Country Club. University of Seattle sophomore Zack Overstreet (Issaquah, WA) was second with a 68, while mid-amateur Jacob Koppenberg (Bellingham, WA) shot 69 to advance.

Five spots were available at the Westminster, CO qualifier, and amateurs took three, led by medalist John Murdock of the University of Wyoming with a 68 at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve. Trevor Olkowski (University of Colorado) and Josh Seiple (Ole Miss) also qualified with 69s.


Gen Nagai	Lloyd Jefferson Go

Ams took five of eight spots at the West Orange, NJ qualifier. Gen Nagai of Japan and Seton Hall University shot a 67 at Essex County Country Club, while Penn State sophomore Ryan Davis and Wake Forest junior Cameron Young shot 69. There was a five-way playoff for the final two qualifying spots, with Dogwood Invitational champion Lloyd Jefferson Go and Yale University junior James Nicholas advancing.

Amateurs took three of the four spots at the Spring Lake, NJ qualifier, led by medalist Jack Wall, a South Carolina commit from Brielle, NJ, who shot 68 at Spring Lake Golf Club. Rutgers freshman Chris Gotterup shot a 70, and mid-amateur Michael Stamberger (Brielle, NJ) shot 71 and then won a three-way playoff for the last spot.


Matthew Lowe	Darin Goldstein

At Southampton (NY) Golf Club, University of Richmond senior Matthew Lowe shot 66 to earn medalist honors, while mid-amateur Darin Goldstein survived a 3-for-2 playoff to advance to the sectional round.

Northwestern University senior Sam Triplett shot a 66 at South Bend CC to medal at the South Bend, IN qualifier. Trine University sophomore Grant McKay shot 67, while Notre Dame junior Miguel Delgado 68 and then took the final spot in a playoff.

Mid-amateur Michael Martin (Scottsdale, AZ) was the only amateur to advance from the Scottsdale, AZ qualifier, shooting a 68 at Tonto Verde Golf Club.

University of North Florida junior Andrew Alligood (67) and University of South Florida senior Claudio Correa (69) took two of the four available spots at the Sarasota, FL qualifier at The Founders Golf Club.

At Riverside G&CC in Portland, OR, former University of Oregon player Sulman Raza shot a 69, while former New Mexico State player Derek Baade shot 70 to advance to sectionals.


Connor Howe	Rhett Rasmussen

Georgia Tech commit Connor Howe and BYU sophomore Rhett Rasmussen both shot 67 at Alpine Country Club to advance from the Highland, UT qualifier.

Georgia Tech sophomore Tyler Strafaci was the only amateur to advance from the Plantation, FL qualifier, shooting 67 at Lago Mar Country Club.

Michigan State players Kaleb Johnson (sophomore) and James Piot (freshman), as well as University of Michigan senior Kyle Mueller, were co-medalists at Muskegon (MI) Country Club with rounds of 69. Former Michigan State player Dan Ellis (Lansing, MI) won a three-way playoff for the final spot after a round of 70.

UNLV junior Harry Hall of England was the medalist at the Las Vegas, NV qualifier, shooting a 69 at Canyon Gate Country Club.

Fresno State junior and Memorial Amateur champion Alex Lee (Sacramento, CA) shot a 66 to earn medalist honors at Fort Washington Golf & Country Club in Fresno, CA.


Gordon Neale	Joseph Pagdin

University of Florida junior Gordon Neale and Florida commit Joseph Pagdin of England advanced from the Daytona Beach, FL qualifier, with Neale medaling with a 68 and Pagdin shooting 69.

At Cog Hill G&CC in Lemont, IL, amateurs swept the five available spots. Illinois Wesleyan freshman Rob Wuethrich was the medalist with a 69, followed by Northwestern University players Ryan Lumsden and Dylan Wu with 70s, former Northwestern player Ethan Farnam with a 71, and Miami (Ohio) University junior Brian Ohr with a 72, followed by a four-way playoff for the final spot.

May 8

University of Florida commit Tyler Wilkes (Tampa, FL) won a four-man playoff for the final qualifying spot after shooting 2-under 69 at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Trinity, FL.


Brandon Wu	Alex Chin

Amateurs took all five spots at the Pleasanton, CA qualifier at Ruby Hill Golf Club. Stanford University junior and Porter Cup champion Brandon Wu medaled with a 66, three shots ahead of two Santa Clara University players, junior Derek Ackerman and sophomore Matthew McCarty. There was a 3-way playoff for the final two spots, from which University of San Francisco freshman Alex Chin advanced, as did Stanford senior Franklin Huang.

High schooler Turner Foster (East Hampton, NY) was the only amateur to advance from the Mount Kisco, NY qualifier, shooting a 71 at Mount Kisco Country Club.

Loyola Marymount commit Raymond Navis shot a 68 to share medalist honors at Andalusia Country Club in La Qunita, CA. UCLA freshman Devondeep Bling survived a 3-for-2 playoff to advance to the sectional qualifier.

Miami (Ohio) University commit Jack Ebner and University of South Dakota Matt Tolan shot 70 at Troy Burne Golf Club to take two of the five spots available at the Hudson, WI qualifier. Iowa State freshman Frank Lindwall took the last spot, winning a four-man playoff.

LSU junior Nathan Jeansonne shot a 65 at Hot Springs Country Club (Arlington Course) to share medalist honors at the Hot Springs, AR qualifier.

UC Davis senior Evan Knight was the co-medalist at the Brooks, CA qualifier, shooting 67 at Yocha Dehe Golf Club. 54-year-old Jeff Wilson, who won the Southern California Mid-Amateur earlier this spring, advanced through a 4-for-3 playoff after a round of 68.

May 9


Sam Stevens	Kristoffer Ventura

Oklahoma State University seniors Sam Stevens and Kristoffer Ventura took the top two spots at the Wichita, KS qualifier. The two showed why the Cowboys are the unanimous #1 team in the country, shooting 64 (-8) and 66 (-6) respectively.

At Orange Tree Golf Club in Orlando, FL, University of Florida freshman Chris Nido medaled with a 69 and Alabama commit Canon Claycomb qualified with a 70. But the big story was South Florida senior Cristian DiMarco losing out to LSU senior Luis Gagne for the final spot in the rarest of tiebreakers, the coin flip.

Related: Amateur loses U.S. Open Sectional spot on a coin flip

Amateurs swept the five qualifying spots available at the Laytonsville, MD qualifier. Three were members of the Liberty University golf team, led by co-medalist Gabriel Lench at 67, with Mickey DeMorat at 68 and Mitchell Klooz at 69. Mid-amateurs took the other two spots: former University of Maryland golfer Ben Warnquist was co-medalist with Lench, and Jeffrey Long, who works at the host club Blue Mash Golf Course, shot a 68 to advance for the first time after about a dozen tries.

UC Santa Barbara junior Nick Swanson shot a 64 at Oak Creek Golf Club in Irvine, CA to medal by three shots. High schooler Guy Clauss of Newport Beach, CA shot 67 to advance, as did Cal State Fullerton junior Matt Wilson.


Bryce Hendrix	Alex Smalley

At Duke University Golf Club in Durham, NC, amateurs took all five qualifying spots. There were three co-medalists at 68: North Carolina State junior Stephen Franken, UNCG junior Bryce Hendrix, and UNCW sophomore Blake McShea. Duke junior Alex Smalley and high school freshman Jackson Van Paris of Pinehurst, NC shot 69 to take the other two spots.

Note: Franken was named the ACC Player of the Year the day after the qualifier.

Robert Morris University sophomore Kyle Grube was the only amateur to advance from the Butler, PA qualifier, shooting 70 at Butler Country Club and getting through a 3-for-2 playoff.

Furman University sophomore Keller Harper shot 66 at Columbia Country Club in Blythewood, SC to share medalist honors. University of South Carolina freshman Andrew Spiegler shot 69 to advance to sectionals.

Four amateurs shot 67 and then competed in a playoff for the final three spots at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, CO. Colorado State University commit Davis Bryant, University of Northern Colorado commit Jack Castiglia, and University of Wyoming senior Glenn Workman were the three who made it to sectional qualifying.

Auburn University junior Jacob Solomon shot a 70 at Hombre Golf Club to take one of two available spots at the Panama City Beach, FL qualifier.

Harrison Ott, a freshman at Vanderbilt University, shot 65 at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, TN to take one of the five qualifying spots. University of Cincinnati junior Austin Squires also shot 65, while Ott's freshman teammate Mason Greenberg shot 66 to take the last spot.

Lipscomb University senior Eric Ansett was the only amateur to advance from the Jackson, TN qualifier, shooting 5-under 67 at Jackson Country Club.

May 10

Matthew Naumec

A day after taking three final exams, Boston College junior Matthew Naumec was co-medalist along with former University of Rhode Island player David Spitz at the Plymouth, MA qualifier, shooting 69 at Pinehills Golf Club.

Loyola University (Maryland) junior Erick Alonso and Villanova commit Danny Dougherty were co-medalists after shooting 68 at Dupont Country Club in Wilmington, DE. For the final qualifying spot, a three-man playoff among two college players, Penn State senior Cole Miller and University of Virginia sophomore Ashton Poole, and pro Zachary Lese, was stopped on the first hole by lightning before resuming the next morning. Miller prevailed on the fourth playoff hole.

Mid-amateur Andrew Von Lossow (Spokane, WA) shot 71 at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, WA to earn one of the five spots available. Washington State senior Derek Bayley took the last spot in a playoff after a 72

University of Arizona golfers took two of the three spots at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, AZ. Junior Travis Fredborg and freshman Trevor Werbylo both shot 68 and survived a 3-for-2 playoff for the final two spots.

Congrats to Trevor Werbylo and Travis Fredborg on advancing to U.S. Open sectionals. They will be back in action at sectionals ⛳️ on June 4th. #BearDown pic.twitter.com/jdOKUpOkll
— Arizona Men's Golf (@ArizonaMGolf) May 10, 2018

University of Virginia junior Thomas Walsh was the only amateur to advance from the Charlottesville, VA qualifier, shooting 69 at Farmington Country Club.

Cal Poly junior Thomas Lehman and University of San Francisco sophomore Tim Widing both shot 71 at the difficult La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc, CA to advance to the sectional qualifying round.


Grant Hirschman	Cooper Dossey

University of Oklahoma senior Grant Hirschman shot an 8-under 64 at Hurricane Creek Country Club in Anna, TX to medal by three shots. Oklahoma commit Logan McAllister took second with a 67. Baylor University sophomore Cooper Dossey got through a massive 7-for-5 playoff after shooting a 68.

May 11

Three amateurs shared medalist honors at River Landing Country Club in Wallace, NC. North Carolina State teammates Benjamin Shipp and Easton Paxton, as well as mid-amateur Thomas Owen, shot 4-under 68. The last spot was earned by another NC State player, Christian Salzer, who won a five-way playoff for the last spot on the 6th playoff hole.

Former pro Randy Leen was the only amateur to advance from the Port St. Lucie, FL qualifier, shooting a 2-under 70 at The Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.

May 14

Dennis Bull (R) in the desert the day before qualifying

One day after winning the National Invitational Whisper Rock with partner Andrew Price, mid-amateur Dennis Bull shot 68 at Glen Oaks Country Club to advance from the W. Des Moines, IA qualifier. Drake University commit Lucas Scherf also qualified with a 69.

Three amateurs advanced from the San Diego, CA qualifier. 19-year-old Daniel Kim of Mexico was the medalist with a 69 at The Grand Golf Club, while USC commit Shane Ffrench and UC Riverside sophomore Tyler Moore shot 70 to make it to sectionals.

Newberry College senior Spencer Skiff shot a 67 at Pinewild Country Club in Pinehurst, NC to earn medalist honors. High school senior Thomas Deal and mid-amateur William Lincicome both shot 69 and got through a 4-for-3 playoff.

The Cincinnati qualifier is the biggest in the country, with 168 players competing for 10 qualifying spots. Amateurs took 6 of the 10, led by medalist Brennen Walsh, a former University of Cincinnati golfer who shot 6-under 65 to medal by four shots. Another former UC golfer, Hays Moreland, and Ohio State junior Will Grimmer also advanced with a 69. There was a massive 9-for-5 playoff (for those who shot 71) that started Monday evening and continued Tuesday morning, with amateurs taking the final three spots. DePaul University freshman Joe McCarthy, former University of Dayton player Nicolas Paxson, and current Dayton senior Caleb Wolters all worked overtime to get through the playoff and advance to the sectional round.

5 for 3 Playoff to Advance to the United States Golf Association - USGA US Open Sectional Maketewah Country Club Greater Cincinnati Golf Association pic.twitter.com/PqW71xeaq9
— Greater Cinci Golf (@GCGA) May 15, 2018

Notre Dame commit Andrew O'Leary shot a 69 and then survived a 4-for-3 playoff to qualify at Pawtucket (R.I.) Country Club.

University of Nebraska players took the only two spots available at Dakota Dunes Country Club in Dakota Dunes, SD. Juniors Jace Guthmiller and Dylan McCabe shot 71 to share medalist honors.

Former UC Riverside golfer Christian Rajcic was the only amateur to advance from the Palm Desert, CA qualifier, shooting a 72 and then getting through a 3-for-2 playoff.

Ryoto Furuya

University of Iowa sophomore Ryoto Furuya shot a 69 to share medalist honors with two professionals at Orange County National in Winter Garden, FL.

University of Virginia commit David Morgan shot a 67 at Pelican Marsh Golf Club in Naples, FL to medal by one shot.

Amateurs took three of four available spots at Delaware Country Club in Muncie, IN. High school junior Peyton Snoeberger was the medalist with a 68, Ball State junior Timothy Wiseman shot 69, and University of Indiana freshman Ethan Shepherd shot 70 and made it out of a 3-for-2 playoff.

Myles Creighton

Radford senior and Rice Planters Amateur champion Myles Creighton (Canada) was the medalist at The Wanderers Club in Wellington, FL, shooting a 68.

Former Georgia State player Tyler Gruca was among three amateurs to advance from the McDonough, GA qualifier at Georgia National Golf Club. Gruca shot a 67, while Lee University sophomore Scott O'Dell shot 68. Furman University sophomore Matt Lehman shot 69 and then birdied the first playoff hole to win a 3-way playoff for the final spot.

Recent Boise State graduate Kyle Mitsunaga took one of two available spots at the Caldwell, ID qualifier, shooting 66 at Timberstone Golf Course.

Mid-amateur Matt O'Quinn of Beaufort, SC won a four-man playoff for the final qualifying spot after shooting 70 at Belfair Plantation in Bluffton, SC.

Maryland State Golf Association photo

Recent Virginia Tech graduate Joey Lane shot 3-under 68 at Hillendale Country Club in Phoenix, MD to advance to the sectional round, along with teenager Michael Brennan who shot 69.

Mid-am Chad Wilcox was the only amateur to advance from the Litchfield Park, AZ qualifier (there were 6 spots available), shooting 3-under 68 at the Wigwam Resort.

Michigan State commit Troy Taylor II shot a 70 at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club in Powell, OH to take one of six available spots. West Virginia University senior Avery Schneider qualified with a 70. Dayton University commit Blake Solomon shot a 71 to get into a 6-for-2 playoff, and birdied the second playoff hole to get the last qualifying spot.

May 15

Chandler Blanchet

2017 NCAA Division II champion Chandler Blanchet, a senior at West Florida, shot a 72 at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, then advanced through a 3-for-2 playoff.

University of Florida commit Ricky Castillo was the only amateur to get through the Palm Desert, CA qualifier, shooting 70 at Ironwood Country Club.

Oakland University commit Colin Sikkenga was the lone amateur to advance from the West Bloomfield, MI qualifier with a 70 at Knollwood Country Club. Sikkenga got through a 3-for-2 playoff to make it to the sectional round.

2017 Oklahoma Mid-Amateur champion Rob Laird shot a 71 at Cedar Ridge Country Club in Broken Arrow, OK to take one of the five available qualifying spots. Oklahoma State University senior Brendon Jelley and University of Central Oklahoma senior Eli Armstrong also shot 71 to advance.

May 16

Jordan Miller (L)

At the Palmer, Alaska qualifier, 11 players played for one spot. Jordan Miller, a 31-year-old financial analyst in Anchorage, shot a 2-under 70 at Palmer Golf Course to win by five shots. It is still early in the season in Alaska: “It was 47 degrees at the peak and probably blowing 25 off the glacier,” said Miller to Golf Digest. Miller prepared for the qualifier by hitting shots in a 90-yard dome.

Connor Sheehan, who is also on both the golf and wrestling teams at Millersville University, shot a 69 at the Country Club of York (Penn.) to share medalist honors. Mid-amateur Steve Kluemper shot 70 and also advanced.

University of Utah sophomore Jordan Costello took the only qualifying spot at the Riverton, WY qualifier, shooting a 69 at Riverton Country Club.

Joseph Deraney

In Lexington, KY, mid-amateur Joseph Deraney's strong play continued, shooting 67 at Kearney Hills Golf Links and advancing to the sectional qualifier. Two weeks ago, Deraney won both the Carlton Woods Invitational and the Timuquana Cup in the same week.

Ben Frazzini, a freshman at the University of Minnesota, was the medalist with a 67 at The Wilds Golf Club at Prior Lake, MN. Maxwell Tylke was second with a 68, and Bradley University junior Dan Lensing shot 69 and then survived a 5-for-3 playoff to advance to the sectional round.

Former Furman University player Stephen Cerbara and University of Minnesota freshman Evan Long took the only two spots at Quicksilver Golf Club in Midway, PA, shooting rounds of 67 to share medalist honors.

Stratton Nolen

Stratton Nolen became the fifth player on this year's Oklahoma State University golf team to qualify for sectionals, shooting a 69 at The Hills Country Club in Austin, TX.

Amateurs took all three spots at the Howey-in-the-Hills, FL qualifier, played at the Mission Inn & Resort. High school junior Dongjin Park of Korea shot a 67 to medal by two shots over Canadian mid-amateur Garrett Rank. Liberty University commit Jonathan Yaun took the third spot with a 70.

May 17

Florida Southern senior John Coultas, the runner-up in last year's NCAA Division II Championship, shot a 68 to advance from the Country Club of Winter Haven (Fla.).

Sean Song

University of Nebraska junior Sean Song became the third Cornhusker to advance to sectionals, going four under on his last seven holes to shoot 1-under 69 and earn medalist honors at Omaha (Neb.) Country Club. Creighton University freshman Nate Vontz shot 71 and then parred the first playoff hole to win a 3-way playoff for the final spot.

St. Joseph's University sophomore Richard Riva and mid-amateur Eric Williams were co-medalists at the Moosic, PA qualifier, shooting 70s at Glenmaura National Golf Club.

There were five spots available at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, AZ, and five players shot 68 to share medalist honors. Two were amateurs: Arizona State freshman Koichiro Ishika of Japan, and former New Mexico State golfer Ben Harden of Phoenix.

Another Japanese player, Pacific University freshman Taiga Fujii, advanced to sectionals with a 69 at Granite Bay (Calif.) Golf Club.

Amateurs took three of five spots at Thunderhawk Golf Club in Beach Park, IL. Former Northwestern University golfer Harley Abrams shot 69, while SIUE junior Conor Dore and University of Wisconsin junior Jordan Hahn shot 70 and got through a 3-for-2 playoff.

What's Next

Sectional Qualifying will be held at 12 sites: 1 in Japan on May 21, 1 in England on June 4, and 10 in the United States on June 4. Each qualifier will be 36 holes in one day and successful qualifiers will punch their ticket to Shinnecock Hills and the 118th U.S. Open Championship, June 11-17, 2018.

Results: U.S. Open Local Qualifying

Place	Player	Location	Pts
Medalist	Andy Ogletree	Little Rock, MS	125
Medalist	Aaron Guanlao	Haslet, TX	125
Medalist	Gustavo Morantes	, Venezuela	125
Medalist	Chandler Smith-Stetson	Albuquerque, NM	125
Medalist	John Murdock	Laramie, WY	125

View full results for U.S. Open Local Qualifying

About the U.S. Open Local Qualifying

18-hole stroke play qualifier open to male amateurs with a handicap of 0.4 and below. Players who advance will get to choose their top three sectional qualifying sites. The number of qualifying spots will depend on the size of the field.