Mike O’Neil, from Timonium, in the second group off the first tee at Sparrows Point Country Club, returned a 5-under-par 33-34–67, and it held up for the low score as the Maryland State Golf Association conducted the last of its four Amateur/Open qualifying events May 30. This was a make-up of a program originally scheduled for May 17, which was postponed because of rain.
With O’Neil only entered in the Amateur, Carlo Pizzano, from College Park, who recorded 36-33–69 for second-low amateur, was able to claim the top spot in the Open division. O’Neil was followed by three players entered in both — Trent Geritz, from Towson; Benton Weinberg, Potomac, and Pieter, DeGroot, Potomac — who in turn were trailed by the the two low pros, Yong Joo, Chantilly, Va., and Frank O’Connell, Springfield, Va.
There were 20 places available for the amateurs, and exactly that number at 76 and better will move on, while there were 12 spots for the Open and 14 at 75 and better advanced. The Amateur will be played June 7-10 at Baltimore CC, with Ben Warnquist, of Olney, shooting for a third title in the last four years, having won in 2015 and 2017. The Open will be July 9-11 at Fountain Head in Hagerstown, where Brad Miller, of Timonium, currently on the Canadian Tour, will be the defendin
defending champion.
O’Neil, a member of Baltimore CC’s runner-up entry in the MSGA Team Matches, finished with seven birdies, five bogeys in his round over the Baltimore County course. This included a front nine that produced three birdies, a par, and a bogey in the first five holes, and one more birdie enabled him to turn 3 under. Coming back, he had three birdies, a bogey and a closing par for 2 under.
Pizzano collected a birdie and a bogey on the front and three birdies on the back for his sub-par round.
Reported by John Stewart
