U.S. Open final qualifying results and stories from golf’s longest day

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Golf's Longest Day: U.S. Open final qualifying results

From California to Florida and New York to Washington, various sites spread across the country provided one final shot to qualify for the nation’s major championship on Monday.

For the first time since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Golf Association held final qualifying for the 121st U.S. Open, June 17-20 on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California. In total, 54 players from nine different sites punched their ticket to the third men’s major championship of the year.

Below you’ll find recaps from each of the nine final qualifying sites, as well as a list of the players who qualified for the U.S. Open.

Keep an eye on our live updates from the field here.

Brookside Golf & Country Club and The Lakes Golf & Country Club, Columbus, Ohio

Editor’s note: Results from a Tuesday-morning finish are attached.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Chez Reavie sure didn’t seem worried despite what his scorecard said Monday when he was dropped off in the fairway at the 16th hole at The Lakes Golf and Country Club following a storm delay of 3 hours, 15 minutes.

He had played five holes in his first round of the final qualifying stage on Golf’s Longest Day and was 2 over on a soft course ripe for scoring.

Well, scoring is what Reavie started to do when play resumed.

The two-time PGA Tour winner eagled 16 and then birdied 17, 18, 1, 2 and 3 and then added two more red numbers on 6 and 8 to turn in a 7-under-par 65. He didn’t lose his touch after driving 25 minutes to Brookside Golf and Country Club for his second 18 and shot 67 to stand at 12 under and well within the margin to earn a trip to the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines next week.

Leaderboard: Columbus qualifier

“I had hit some good shots, but I wasn’t fully committed to what I was doing,” said Reavie, who will play in his ninth U.S. Open. “I hit it great at home last week so I just had to stay patient and have trust in my putter. And it worked.

“After getting to Brookside, I was just pressing on. I wasn’t thinking too much about it. I was playing pretty well, giving myself good looks. So I just kept moving forward.”

While Reavie hasn’t officially earned his golden ticket to the U.S. Open – the storm delay kept the Columbus qualifying region from completely finishing – he’ll be going to San Diego after he plays this week’s Palmetto Championship at Congaree in South Carolina.

Related: Chez Reavie supports Sun Devils at NCAAs

Also unofficially earning a trip to the U.S. Open is Wyndham Clark. He shot 64-70 to move to 10 under and will be one of the 16 players earning a spot out of Columbus. Clark was exhausted after his 36 holes but ecstatic. He has been trying to qualifying for the U.S. Open since he turned 15. He’s now 27.

“I grinded it out,” he said. “This is my eighth week in a row on the PGA Tour so it was more mental than physical out there. After I got off to a great start and shot 64, I came over here to The Lakes, which is the easier course, but it seemed every fairway and every green got smaller. I hit a lot of fairway finders and then just decided to let it loose.

“This is definitely bucket list for me. Torrey Pines is one of my favorite stops on Tour and to play an Open there will be amazing.”

Play will resume at 8 a.m. Tuesday at both courses. Right now, 26 players are in the top 16, with 11 at 5 under, which would be the playoff cut right now.

PGA Tour players populated the top 26 right now, including major champions Charl Schwartzel (8 under through 32 holes), Keegan Bradley (5 under through 36) and Jason Dufner (5 under through 36 holes).

In good shape to qualify are Erik van Rooyen (11 under through 31 holes), J.T. Poston (finished at 10 under), Martin Laird (9 under with one hole to play), Brendan Steele (9 under with two to play), Rafa Cabrera Bello (finished at 8 under), Dylan Frittelli (finished at 8 under), Sung Kang (finished at 7 under), and Adam Hadwin (7 under with one hole to play).

One player who needs to do work is Rickie Fowler. The five-time winner on the PGA Tour and two-time winner on the European Tour is 3 under with five holes to play. He’ll likely need to make three birdies to get into a playoff.

He will start on the par-3 14th hole.

“I have a good number with a 7-iron in the morning,” Fowler said. “Then some birdie holes coming in. Just get some good looks and makes some putts. I didn’t make much through the first 31 holes.

“It was a long day for sure. A little beat up after last week.”

Fowler tied for 11th in the Memorial and tied for 8th in the PGA Championship in his previous start before the Memorial. He’s trending in the right direction after a prolonged slump, which helped him get through the storm delay and fight through his low tank.

“Definitely feeling the fatigue,” he said. “We all know Memorial is a big walk and it was a long week, but a lot of guys are in the same spot. I just didn’t get anything going and if you can, you can ride the wave a little bit.

“I just didn’t have that wave to ride.”

– Steve DiMeglio

Qualifying players

  • Chez Reavie
  • Erik van Rooyen
  • Wyndham Clark
  • J.T. Poston
  • Martin Laird
  • Rafa Cabrera Bello
  • Dylan Frittelli
  • Brendan Steele
  • Sunghoon Kang
  • Adam Hadwin
  • Charl Schwartzel
  • Michael Johnson
  • Peter Malnati
  • Pierceson Coody
  • Tom Hoge
  • Jhonattan Vegas

Woodmont Country Club (North Course), Rockville, Maryland

In his first major championship start, Taylor Pendrith finished T-23 at the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

The 29-year-old Canadian will get another shot at the nation’s major title after winning a 36-hole final qualifier at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, on Tuesday. Following an opening-round 2-under 70 Pendrith shot the low-round of the afternoon, a 6-under 66, to climb atop the leaderboard at 8 under. A two-time winner on the PGA Tour Canada in 2019, Pendrith was a two-time Mid-American Conference player of the year for Kent State, where he was teammates with PGA Tour pro Corey Conners.

A total of 71 players were competing for four spots from the Rockville final qualifier.

Leaderboard: Rockville qualifier

Dylan Wu, a Northwestern graduate who held the early lead after an opening-round 6-under 66, finished second at 7 under, followed by Chris Baker and Christopher Crawford, who finished T-3 at 5 under. Baker, an Iowa State graduate and 2019 Korn Ferry Tour graduate, struggled through the middle of the course by playing holes 8-14 at 4 over. With his father on the bag, Baker made birdies on Nos. 15 and 18 to advance. A Drexel graduate and Philadelphia native, Crawford earned the final spot with rounds of 69-70 thanks to just two bogeys over the 36 holes.

On the outside looking in, a pair of players who just wrapped their freshmen seasons at the NCAA Championship finished within just a few shots of the cutline.

Michael Brennan, from nearby Leesburg, Virginia, and a member of the Wake Forest men’s team, finished fifth at 4 under while Joseph Pagdin, a 19-year-old Englishman who plays for the Florida Gators, was one of three players T-6 at 3 under, joining David Kocher (Charlotte, North Carolina) and Brandon Smith (Las Vegas).

Mark Lawrence Jr., a medalist at the nearby Glen Allen, Virginia, local qualifier and 2020’s Virginia State Golf Association player of the year, was in the mix after the morning but finished at 1 over, T-20. Eighteen-year-old Kelly Chinn, the No. 5-ranked player in the Golfweek/Sagarin boys rankings, finished at 3-over, T-29.

— Adam Woodard

Qualifying players

  • Taylor Pendrith, Canada
  • Dylan Wu, Medford, Oregon
  • Chris Baker, Brownstown, Indiana
  • Christopher Crawford, Bensalem, Pennsylvania

The Bear’s Club, Jupiter, Florida

JUPITER, Fla. – There isn’t supposed to be a homefield advantage in golf, but that was certainly the case at the Bear’s Club.

Three Bear’s Club members – Patrick Rodgers, Thomas Aiken and Branden Grace – were among the six players to advance to next week’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. And 22-year-old amateur Andrew Kozan of West Palm Beach qualified for his first U.S. Open in front of family and friends at Jack Nicklaus’ private club.

“It helped big time,” said Grace (70-72-142), at No. 71 the highest-ranked player in the field. “I knew coming here with my experience around this place I needed to beat about 20 guys. It’s such a tough track. You have to know when to go for it and where to miss it. A lot of times you don’t go for it.”

Leaderboard: Jupiter qualifier

Rodgers earned medalist honors at 7-under 137, the only player in the field to shoot two rounds in the 60s. He has been a member at the Bear’s Club for six years and had his wife and son follow him around during the morning round.

“Obviously, it really helped today,” Rodgers said. “Being a member here has helped my career immensely. I was fortunate to meet Mr. Nicklaus when I won the Jack Nicklaus Award in 2014. He said to let him know if he can ever do anything for me.

“I asked him if I could join here. The facilities are probably the best in the United States. The competition is incredible. I felt I had an advantage because I was comfortable on every hole.”

Kozan wasn’t comfortable until he completed his second consecutive 70 to finish second. He had a nervous moment when he had to make a 16-foot putt for double bogey on the par-4 sixth hole late in the day.

But after several close calls, the recent graduate at Auburn who attended nearby King’s Academy had qualified for his first national championship.

“I can’t even put it into words what this means to me,” Kozan said. “To finally get it done in my hometown in front of my family and friends is pretty special. Being in those pressure moments helped me today.

“I thought I needed to make that putt (at No. 6) just to get into the playoff. I ended up being in by two, which is pretty cool.”

Also qualifying were Fabian Gomez (68-74-142) of Argentina and Luis Gagne (73-69-142) of Costa Rica. It’s the first U.S. Open for the 42-year-old Gomez, which is surprising because he has won twice on the PGA Tour.

“It’s really tough to play 36 holes in a day,” Gomez said. “I’m really happy to have this chance.”

Gagne, by comparison, qualified for his third U.S. Open at 23.

Grace could have avoided the qualifier had he finished in a two-way tie for second place Sunday at the Memorial Tournament. That would have moved him inside the top 60 in the world rankings, but Grace finished alone in fourth and had to earn his way in Monday.

“I had no idea where I needed to finish (Sunday). I was trying to win a golf tournament,” Grace said. “It was a long day.”

– Craig Dolch, Palm Beach Post

Qualifying players

  • Patrick Rodgers
  • Andrew Kozan
  • Fabian Gomez
  • Luis Gagne
  • Thomas Aiken
  • Branden Grace

Springfield Country Club, Springfield, Ohio

As if 77 players competing for just seven spots wasn’t tense enough, the final qualifying position at Springfield Country Club in Ohio came down to a three-for-one playoff.

Sahith Theegala rode a wave of positive momentum down the stretch, besting both Ryan Brehm and David Gazzolo to join the six players who punched their ticket to the U.S. Open later this month at Torrey Pines.

Leaderboard: Springfield qualifier

After watching his Pepperdine Waves win the NCAA Championship last week, Theegala – a three-time All-American during his time in Malibu –finished T-32 at the Memorial at Jack Nicklaus’ Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio, this weekend before making the short trip to the Springfield qualifier. Theegala was 3 over through nine holes this morning, but bounced back with a 4-under 66 in the afternoon thanks to a five-birdie, one-bogey performance.

“It means so much, I can’t wait to have family and friends out there watching,” said Theegala, a Chino Hills, California, native of the chance to compete at Torrey Pines. “I’m really excited.”

Carson Schaake, 26, won the qualifier by three shots at 9 under following rounds of 68-63. Schaake’s bogey-free 7-under 63 in the afternoon was the low round of the day.

Robby Shelton, a three-time All-SEC player and national champion at Alabama, finished T-2 alongside Columbus, Ohio, native Bo Hoag at 6 under. Brian Stuard advanced to the U.S. Open via the Springfield qualifier for a sixth time thanks to a fourth-place finish at 5 under, and is followed by two-time winner on Tour Troy Merritt and Dylan Meyer, T-5 at 4 under. Meyer previously qualified for the 2018 U.S. Open through the Springfield qualifier.

– Adam Woodard

Qualifying players

  • Carson Schaake, Omaha, Nebraska
  • Robby Shelton, Birmingham, Alabama
  • Bo Hoag, Columbus, Ohio
  • Brian Stuard, Jackson, Michigan
  • Troy Merritt, Eagle, Idaho
  • Dylan Meyer, Evansville, Indiana
  • Sahith Theegala, Chino Hills, California

Century Country Club and Old Oaks Country Club, Purchase, New York

U.S. Open qualifiers: Purchase, New York

The qualifiers in Purchase, New York. (David Dusek)

PURCHASE, N.Y. – When Monday dawned over Century Country Club and Old Oaks Country Club here in Westchester County, just north of New York City, 79 golfers had dreams of finishing their 36-hole day as one of the top four finishers. That would allow them punch their ticket into the field at next week’s U. S. Open at Torrey Pines.

But before noon, after signing for scores in the mid- and high 70s, several players already knew their dreams were not going to come true. Then came the thunderstorms, delaying play at 2:24 p.m., and then again moments after the re-start horn sounded at 3:35 p.m.

When play finally resumed at 5:15 p.m., Cameron Young, who won the Korn Ferry Tour’s AdventHealth Championship and Evans Scholars Invitational in May, put the hammer down and pulled away from the field to claim medalist honors. Birdies at 10, 13, 14 and 15 at Century Country Club in the early evening pushed him from 3 under to 7 under. A final birdie on 18 left him atop the leaderboard at 133 (67-66).

Leaderboard: Purchase qualifier

While he lives these days in Jupiter, Florida, Young is from Scarborough, New York, which is just 14 miles from Century and Old Oaks.

“For me, this is coming home,” Young said after signing his card. “It’s a pretty easy choice. I’ve played both these golf courses a million times. I love Century, and I love Old Oaks, and I think knowing them well (gives) me a really good chance of getting through on a consistent basis.”

Young flew to the New York area last Sunday night after playing the Korn Ferry Tour’s REX Hospital Open in where he finished T-78. After shooting an opening-round 67 at Old Oaks, he took a nap on the locker room floor for about an hour and a half, with his caddie and parents acting as his alarm clocks.

“It was great. I had a splitting head,” he said with a smile. “I got to reset, warm up again and try to play a good nine holes.”

A pair of UConn Huskies are also now planning a trip to Torrey Pines.

James Hervol from Hopkinton, Massachusetts, who graduated from UConn in 2019, finished second after shooting a pair of 68s (136) to qualify for his first U.S. Open. He has status on the Mackenzie Tour and splits time between Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and his hometown.

Zach Zaback, a former standout at the University of Connecticut who graduated in 2016, finished at 3 under (68-70, 138) after making birdies at 15 and 16 to qualify for his first U.S. Open.

Andy Pope, 37, from Glyn Ellyn, Illinois, finished third at 4 under (67-70. 137), four shots behind Young. A star at Xavier Univesity and the 2004 Atlantic 10 Conference champion, he now has a chance to play in his fifth U.S. Open. Pope’s best finish T-58 in 2019 at Pebble Beach.

There was a three-man playoff between Ben Polland, Rob Oppenheim and Tim Hegarty to determine the two alternates from this site. Polland birdied the first hole and will be the first alternate. Oppenheim birdied the next hole and will be the second alternate.

– David Dusek

Qualifying players

  • Cameron Young
  • James Hervol
  • Andy Pope
  • Zach Zaback

Long Cove Club, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

The night before U.S. Open qualifying began, Wilson Furr was in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, but without a spot on the tee sheet at the Final Qualifier at Long Cove Club. Furr got his big shot when four players withdrew from the 53-man field and he drew a spot as a replacement.

“If I get in this thing,” Furr told Golf Channel when asked about his mindset, “I’m getting through.”

Indeed, Furr, who recently turned professional after his career at the University of Alabama, rode it all the way to Torrey Pines. The Jackson, Mississippi native was one of four men to finish 36 holes at 5 under and earn co-medalist honors at Long Cove Club.

Furr is the man who fired a course-record 9-under 62 at Bandon Dunes’ Bandon Trails course in August to take U.S. Amateur medalist honors by two shots. In 120 years of the championship, only one score has been lower in stroke play.

Leaderboard: Hilton Head qualifier

Along with Furr, John Huh, Sam Ryder and John Spaun also finished at 5 under to advance.

The fifth and final spot was decided in a three-man playoff between Akshay Bhatia, Zack Sucher and Ben Martin. Bhatia, 19, ended up taking the final spot for a shot at his first U.S. Open.

The Wake Forest, North Carolina, native chose to turn professional in 2019 after a standout junior career but has only made the cut in three of 15 career PGA Tour starts. The U.S. Open offers a unique experience.

“It’s great,” he told Golf Channel of qualifying. “I get another start playing against the best players in the world and I’m looking forward to playing Torrey Pines.”

– Julie Williams

Qualifying players

  • John Huh
  • Sam Ryder
  • John Spaun
  • Wilson Furr
  • Ashay Bhatia

Piedmont Driving Club, Atlanta, Georgia

One lefty made a surprise run at the last major, so who’s to say a different one won’t make a run at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines?

Southpaw Rick Lamb birdied the fourth playoff hole, edging Thomas Bass for the fifth and final qualifying spot from Piedmont Country Club on Monday evening.

University of Alabama product Davis Shore had the low score in Atlanta, finishing at 11 under with rounds of 66 and 67. He was followed by Hayden Buckley (-10) and the duo of Greyson Sigg and amateur Spencer Ralston, both at 9 under.

Leaderboard: Atlanta qualifier

But Lamb, Bass and Alex Smalley all finished at 8 under and went to a playoff. Smalley, a former Walker Cupper who played at Duke, bowed out with a bogey on the opening playoff hole while Lamb and Bass made par through each of the first three playoff holes.

The 30-year-old Lamb, who played at the University of Tennessee and has one pro win under his belt in the then-Web.com LECOM Health Challenge, stuck it close on the the fourth playoff hole (No. 9) to secure the final spot.

— Tim Schmitt

Qualifying players

  • Davis Shore
  • Hayden Buckley
  • Greyson Sigg
  • Spencer Ralston (a)
  • Rick Lamb

Meadow Springs Country Club, Richland, Washington

The sole Final Qualifier in the Pacific Northwest seemed all wrapped up in Pepperdine colors at the halfway point. Waves teammates Joe Highsmith and RJ Manke led the field with opening rounds of 3-under 69, but while Highsmith pulled away in the afternoon, Manke got caught.

Australia’s Steve Allan backed up an opening 72 with a 68 to reach Manke at 4 under, and Allan took the second and final spot in a playoff.

Leaderboard: Richland qualifier

Highsmith has had some week, having just helped the Waves to the NCAA Championship less than a week ago in Arizona. The Lakewood, Washington native, who remains an amateur, secured his spot in another national championship with rounds of 69-69 on Monday.

As for Allan, the 47-year-old Aussie has two international victories, at the 1998 German Open and 2002 Holden Australian Open, and has not played in a major championship since the the 2010 U.S. Open. His career-best major finish was a T28 at the 2004 U.S. Open.

– Julie Williams

Qualifying players

  • Joe Highsmith (a)
  • Steve Allan

Rolling Hills Country Club, Rolling Hills Estates, California

Editor’s note: Results from a Tuesday-morning finish are attached.

A playoff awaits at Rolling Hills Country Club. The field of 90 players nearly finished before play was suspended due to darkness and with a crowd inside the projected cutline. Only five players will advance from this site.

Four men are currently tied for fourth at 6 under, but with Thomas Lim still needing to finish his final three holes. That group also includes Roy Cootes, a former Pepperdine player; Justin Suh, a former USC standout, and amateur Joe Neiheisel, who just finished a fifth year at Boise State.

As for who’s in? Chan Kim is certainly safe and will take medalist honors after rounds of 68-66 to reach 10 under. Kim plays primarily on the Japan Golf Tour, where he’s won five times, but played college golf at Arizona State and was the 2009 Pacific Coast Amateur champion.

Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino was right behind him at 8 under followed by Taylor Montgomery at 7 under.

For much of the day, 2018 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Kevin O’Connell led the charge. After an opening 67, he was in prime position to advance. But O’Connell, who now is an assistant coach at VCU, leaked too much oil coming into he clubhouse, making five birdies in his last six holes. He dropped to 5 under, one outside the cut.

– Julie Williams

Qualifying players

  • Chan Kim
  • Rikuya Hoshino
  • Taylor Montgomery
  • Justin Suh
  • Roy Cootes
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