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One of the most tense golf days of the year came Monday, as 13 U.S. Open sectional qualifiers were held across the country — the last step before reaching the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. Enduring 36 holes of golf, more than 770 players competed for just 63 spots (not including alternates). The largest and most recognizable fields were in Columbus, Ohio and Memphis, Tenn., as lots of PGA Tour players enhanced the competition at both sites. In Tennessee, 13 players moved on and five shots separated the medalist from the final qualifier; while in Ohio, 17 qualified and only four shots separated the medalist and last qualifier. Many familiar Southern California players made it through to the Open, while others faltered: Saticoy C.C. in Somis, Calif.: Enjoying the most accomplished season of anyone in the field, North Hills’ Charlie Wi earned medalist honors by offsetting seven bogeys and a double bogey with 10 birdies and an eagle. Wi, who has had three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour in ‘09 and stands 35th on the money list, posted a three-under-par 141 to clear the field by three shots. Also qualifying was Virginia Country Club PGA professional Mike Miles, who shot two rounds of even-par 72. Miles, a former touring pro, was a U.S. Open local qualifier medalist in 2005. Second alternate Michael Walton (Indian Wells) rounded out the top-six finishers with a two-round 145. Walton’s first-round 68 tied for the lowest score of the tournament, but a subsequent 77 sent him down the leaderboard. Harry Rudolph III (San Diego), Brian Smock (Coronado) and Jeff Wilson (La Quinta) failed to qualify with two-round totals of 146, while USC’s Matthew Giles carded rounds of 77-73 for a two-round 150. Giles’ head coach at USC, Chris Zambri, came in two shots better at 148. Germantown & Ridgeway C.C. in Memphis, Tenn: It seemed like everybody in the River City was going low, but not as low as Long Beach’s Peter Tomasulo. For the second year in a row, Tomasulo was the medalist at his U.S. Open sectional qualifier, carding a nine-under-par 133. In one of the more hotly contested qualifiers of the day, Tomasulo’s first-round, seven-under-par 64 only gave him a two-shot lead. Paired with his second-round 69, the PGA Tour rookie snuck by runner-up Darron Stiles by one stroke. PGA Tour veteran Paul Goydos (Coto De Caza) snagged the second alternate spot with a 138. Valencia’s Jason Gore and San Diego native Bill Lunde failed to qualify with totals of 140 and 148, respectively. Also making an appearance was California born and Tennessee resident John Daly, who missed out with a one-over-par 143. Brookside C.C./The Lakes G & C.C. & NCR C.C. in Columbus, Ohio: Three courses were needed to house the largest field of all the 2009 sectional sites; 120 players were vying for just 17 spots. Two Southern California natives, John Mallinger of Escondido and Rickie Fowler of Murrieta, were among those 17, as they each carded a 135. Notable Southern Californians who missed the cut were Poway native Charley Hoffman (138), former SDSU standout Aaron Goldberg (141), Diamond Bar’s Kevin Na (141), UCLA alums Tom Pernice Jr. (141) and Parker McLachlin (145) and amateur John Chin of Temecula (144). Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ballground, Ga.: On the heels of a top-25 finish at last month’s NCAA Championships, recent Georgia Tech graduate and Rancho Santa Margarita native Cameron Tringale captured the final qualifying spot with a nine-under-par 135. This will be his first appearance in a U.S. Open. Columbine C.C. in Columbine Valley, Col.: Kevin Stadler, a USC graduate and son of veteran Tour player Craig Stadler, failed to qualify after rounds of 71-71. Tumble Creek Club in Roslyn, Wash.: Steven Conway of Murrieta snatched the first alternate spot with rounds of 71-69. Noteworthy Southern Californians who came up short were UCLA’s Erik Flores (145), Scott Gibson of Huntington Beach (147), Irvine’s Daniel Im (149) and La Quinta’s Mike Sica (150). You can view full results at pgatour.com. ALSO SEE: Locals to watch at Saticoy's U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier |
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