Ellicott City, Md. – With seven qualifying spots available for U.S. Open Final Qualifying, 125 golfers battled rainy conditions during the 126th U.S. Open Local Qualifier held at Turf Valley Resort on May 6.
Francisco Perez (a) (pictured above) from Hyattsville, Md., earned medalist honors after firing a bogey-free four-under-par 66, finishing two strokes clear of the field. The Howard University junior carded two birdies and an eagle in a steady round atop the leaderboard.
Daniel Azallion from Okatie, S.C., and Chase Nevins (a) from Great Falls, Va., tied for second at two-under-par 68 to secure qualifying spots. Azallion posted a bogey-free round with two birdies, while Nevins recorded four birdies against two bogeys.
Three players tied for fourth to claim the next three qualifying spots. Oliver Clark (a) from Baltimore, Md., Charlie Hanson from Manakin Sabot, Va., and Nick Barrett (a) from Catonsville, Md., each finished their rounds at one-under-par 69.
Clark, who started his round on the 10th hole, had a difficult start, opening with consecutive bogeys. His luck would turn on the par-3 thirteenth hole, where he carded a hole-in-one. It proved to be a turning point as Clark would card birdies on the 16th and 3rd holes before ending his round with a bogey on the 9th.
Hanson also began on the 10th hole and carded birdies on the 12th and 15th holes, making the turn at two-under-par. Trouble came on the par-5 first hole, where he scored a double bogey to fall back to even-par. Hanson responded with a birdie on the 3rd hole and played the remainder of his round without a bogey.
Barrett started his round with an early bogey on the 2nd hole, and sat at one-over-par at the turn. He made his move with birdies on the 10th and 14th holes, but ran into a minor setback with a bogey on the 16th. Barrett answered with a birdie on his final hole, wrapping up a qualifying spot and avoiding the playoff for the final qualifying positions.
An eight-player playoff at even-par 70 decided the final qualifying spot. Landon O’Hara (a) from Severn, Md., emerged from the pack to secure the final spot after he birdied the first playoff hole.
The playoff for the two alternate positions continued, but was delayed to the next morning due to darkness. Rusty Hooks (a) from Forest, Va., claimed first alternate, while Brendan Kelly (a) from Baltimore, Md., earned second alternate.
The seven players who qualified will advance to U.S. Open Final Qualifying in the coming weeks, with hopes of earning a place in the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
The MSGA would like to thank the staff and members at Turf Valley Resort for hosting this U.S. Open Local Qualifier.
MSGA Mission
To serve, grow, and advance the game of golf in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
