126th U.S. Amateur Local Qualifying Medalist Talon Dingledine
Rising Sun, Md. – The Maryland State Golf Association held local qualifying at Chesapeake Bay Golf Club for the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship on Thursday, June 11. Fourteen spots were available to advance to final qualifying, with two additional alternate positions also available.
Talon Dingledine of North Chesterfield, Va., earned medalist honors after rounding out the day at the top of the leaderboard with a five-under-par 66 finish. Dingledine opened the front nine strong, firing off three birdies and five pars. His start on the back nine was rocky with a bogey on the 12th hole, but he quickly responded with an eagle on the 14th and two consecutive birdies on the 16th and 17th. Dingledine’s adaptability on the course secured him medalist honors and a spot in final qualifying for the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship.
Brendan O’Reilly of Juno Beach, Fla., and Dustin Stocksdale of Ellicott City, Md., finished their rounds in a tie for second at four-under-par 67.
O’Reilly showed a steady start to his round with six pars on the front nine, backed by two birdies against one bogey. After making the turn, he was able to put together four more birdies against one bogey to finish the day tied for second. Stocksdale’s round began with three bogeys on the 1st, 2nd, and 4th holes, but he rebounded with two consecutive birdies on the 6th and 7th to finish his front nine at one-over-par. The back nine showed to be far better for Stocksdale’s game, as he fired off three birdies on the 10th, 11th, and 12th holes. From there, he carded two additional birdies and remained at even par for the duration of the round. Both O’Reilly and Stocksdale’s final performances of four-under-par 67 earned them a spot in final qualifying.
Colin Richards of Powell, Ohio, shot a two-under-par 69 round, punching his ticket to final qualifying and earning himself the fourth spot on the leaderboard. Four players tied for fifth with rounds of one-under-par 70, securing their spots in final qualifying: Evan Barbin of Elkton, Md., Reed Theiss of Leesburg, Va., Kellen Dean of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and David Colleran of Wayne, Pa. The final six players advancing to final qualifying were James Braunsberg of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., Landon Tudor of New Market, Md., Nathan Switzer of Mount Airy, Md., Ryan Baker of Chapel Hill, N.C., Ieuan Jones of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Hank Kancher of Philadelphia, Pa., all tied for ninth after each shooting even rounds.
Ten players tied at one-over-par 72, but only six chose to compete for the remaining two alternate positions, sending them to a 6-for-2 playoff.
George Williamson of Sykesville, Md., Seiji Sako of Wynnewood, Pa., Logan Wagner of Quarryville, Pa., Kai Chiarenza of Rexford, N.Y., Alexander Hicks of Stone Harbor, N.J., and Isaiah Ellis of Canada began the playoff showdown on the par-4 1st hole. Williamson quickly secured the first alternate position after shooting a birdie, with Sako, Wagner, Chiarenza, and Ellis continuing on to the par-3 2nd to continue the playoff for second alternate. After the second playoff hole, Sako, Wagner, and Ellis each made par to advance to the third playoff hole, the par-4 9th. There, Sako secured the second alternate spot with a par.
After competing in the 18-hole local qualifying at Chesapeake Bay Golf Club, the fourteen players who advanced now turn their focus to one of the 19 final qualifying sites for a chance to play at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., this August in the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship.
The MSGA would like to thank Chesapeake Bay Golf Club for its hospitality in hosting this USGA qualifier.
MSGA Mission
To serve, grow, and advance the game of golf in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
