U.S. Open Final Qualifying: Amateurs who are headed for Torrey

June 7, 2021 | by Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com

An old school scoreboard at the Columbus, Ohio qualifier

Six amateurs made it through ‘Golf’s Longest Day’ and are headed to Torrey Pines

UPDATE (June 10, 2021): Cole Hammer became the seventh amateur to get through Final Qualifying and into the U.S. Open field. The first alternate from the Columbus qualifier got into the championship when Mikko Korhonen, who was one of 10 players exempt through the three-event U.S. Open 2021 European Tour Qualifying Series, had to withdraw.

It's no easy task making it through sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open. But the annual tradition, dubbed "Golf's Longest Day" by Golf Channel, is a welcome return to the June calendar in 2021 after being cancelled due to the Covid pandemic in 2020. At AmateurGolf.com, we love covering the 36-hole "finals" for a number of reasons, but first and foremost is that they represent the best chance for amateurs to make it into a major. All resumes are cast aside, as evidenced on May 24 when 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell made a run, but ultimately failed to advance to Torrey Pines while two amateurs took medalist honors at Dallas Athletic Club.

Below is a recap of each of the final qualifying sites, where a total of six amateurs have made their way to Torrey Pines. The pairings links are provided by the state and regional golf associations running the events, and will often have results information as well. The results link will take you to the USGA live scoring pages. If you're interested in the latest, try both links to see which works best. And look for a follow up email from us on Tuesday morning with amateur highlights. Let's start in Florida:

THE BEAR'S CLUB -- JUPITER, FL
Auburn senior Andrew Kozan survived a double bogey late in his second round and grabbed one of six spots available at the Bears Club in Jupiter, Fla. He finished second with a 4-under score of 140 (70-70) which left him just two strokes back of Patrick Rodgers. GB&I Walker Cup team member and Wake Forest standout Alex Fitzpatrick was two strokes off the cut line at 1-over 145 (73-72).
“I can’t even put into words what this means to me,” said Kozan. “To finally get it done in my hometown in front of my family and friends is pretty special. Being in those pressure moments really helped me today.”

Andrew Kozan is headed to the #USOpen!

The @AuburnMGolf players earns Low-Amateur honors to punch his ticket. 👏#FromManyOne | @USOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/5S42MmEJNQ
— Florida State Golf Association (@fsga) June 7, 2021

PAIRINGS | RESULTS

PIEDMONT DRIVING CLUB -- ATLANTA, GA
South Carolina standout Ryan Hall made a valiant bid to punch his ticket to Torrey, posting a 5-under 67 on his afternoon card, but ultimately fell short in his U.S. Open bid, finishing at 6-under 138 (71-67).
PAIRINGS | RESULTS

WOODMONT CC (NORTH) -- ROCKVILLE, MD.
Joseph Padgin, the SEC's Freshman of the Year out of Florida, finished two off the pace at 3-under 141.
PAIRINGS | RESULTS

CENTURY CC & OLD OAKS CC -- PURCHASE, NY
Lingkun Kong was the low amateur here but at 2-over 143, finished well off the cut line.

PAIRINGS | RESULTS

BROOKSIDE G&CC AND THE LAKES G&CC -- COLUMBUS, OH
This is the tour spot, where non-exempt players competing in The Memorial grind it out for 36-holes to try and get in the field at Torrey Pines. With that many talented players, the USGA provides more spots, and some amateurs think that's a good thing. In the largest field among the final qualifying sites, University of Texas and Walker Cup teammates Cole Hammer and Pierceson Coody were involved for a 5-for-4 playoff with tour vets Jhonattan Vegas, Peter Malnati and Tom Hoge after all tied for 13th at 6-under 138. Coody is through to Torrey while Hammer will be the first alternate after making a bogey on the playoff hole. After carding a morning score of 73 at Brookside, Hammer had his back against the wall but came through with a 7-under 65 in the afternoon at the Lakes Golf & Country Club. After a bogey on the first, Hammer caught fire and made eight birdies coming to the house. Coody played nearly flawless golf all day, making just one bogey over 36 holes. The first alternate out of Columbus often gets in, so Hammer just might end up making the trip west in a few weeks, yet.

PAIRINGS | RESULTS

SPRINGFIELD COUNTRY CLUB -- SPRINGFIELD, OH
Illinois standout Michael Feagles was the low amateur at Springfield Country Club but at 1-under 139, was two strokes shy of joining a playoff for a trip to Torrey.

PAIRINGS | RESULTS

ROLLING HILLS CC -- ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, CA
Just up the road from Torrey Pines (ok, 109 miles is a bit more than "up the road") lies a wonderful David McLay Kidd remodel where on many holes players can get creative with hybrid or iron bump-and-runs from within 100 yards of the green. Joe Neuheisel, who played collegiately at Boise State, just missed qualifying for his first U.S. Open. Neuheisel, the son of football commentator and former coach Rick Neuheisel, tied for fourth at 6-under 138 but came out on the short end of a 4-for-2 playoff.
PAIRINGS | RESULTS

LONG COVE CLUB -- HILTON HEAD, SC
William O'Neill of Georgetown University was the lowest amateur at Long Cove but at 6-over 148 (77-71) was well off the cut line.

PAIRINGS | RESULTS

MEADOW SPRINGS CC -- RICHLAND, WA
Joe Highsmith, fresh off a final match victory as part of Pepperdine’s NCAA champion team, kept his momentum rolling by winning medalist honors at in Washington State. Two rounds of 69 got the Lakewood, Wash. native to 6-under. "I've actually never played it," Highsmith said about Torrey Pines. "That's going to change quickly."

Highsmith's Wave teammate, R.J. Manke tied for second with Steve Allan at 4-under 140, but was clipped on the first playoff hole by the Aussie. Allan made a 10-foot par putt on his last hole to force a playoff and then birdied the first extra hole to deny Manke a trip to Torrey Pines.

No one's hotter than @joehighsmith33! 3-0 in #NCAAGolf match play last week, and today he wins the U.S. Open qualifier in Richland, Wash.!#WavesUp https://t.co/gcvbAqYPSN
— Pepperdine Men’s Golf (@PeppGolf) June 8, 2021

PAIRINGS | RESULTS

MAY 24, 2021

DALLAS ATHLETIC CLUB -- DALLAS, TX
We were all over this a couple of weeks ago, when rain turned a one day qualifier into a 2-day survival fest. Two amateurs led the charge, Mattias Schmid and Matthew Sharpstene.
STORY & RESULTS

THE ROYAL GOLF CLUB -- JAPAN
RESULTS

Results: U.S. Open Final Qualifying

Place	Player	Location	Pts
Medalist	Matthias Schmid	, Germany	500
Medalist	Matt Sharpstene	Asheville, NC	500
Medalist	Joe Highsmith	Lakewood, WA	500
Qualifier	Andrew Kozan	Palm Beach Gardens, FL	400
Qualifier	Spencer Ralston	Gainesville, GA	400

View full results for U.S. Open Final Qualifying

About the U.S. Open Final Qualifying

U.S. Open Final Qualifying: Amateurs who are headed for Torrey

Final qualifying for the U.S. Open Championship. Played at various sites across the U.S. on the Monday a week and half before the U.S. Open. There is also a qualifier in Japan and in England. 36 holes of stroke play at each site.