Photo: Logan Reilly (left) & Liam Maclauchlan (right)
Ijamsville, Md. – The Club at P.B. Dye hosted the Maryland State Golf Association’s second U.S. Open Local Qualifier of the season on Monday, May 11, with seven more players advancing to Final Qualifying from a field of 126 competitors.
Logan Reilly (a) from Lovettsville, Va., and Liam Maclauchlan (a) from Moseley, Va., shared medalist honors after each posted a two-under-par 68.
Reilly, an Auburn freshman, opened his round on the 1st hole and played steady golf throughout the day. He recorded birdies on the 6th and 8th holes to make the turn at two-under-par before adding another birdie on the 12th hole. A bogey on the 13th dropped him back to two-under, where he finished his round.
Maclauchlan began his day on the 10th hole and battled through an up-and-down opening stretch that included two bogeys and a birdie over his first nine holes. He found momentum on the 3rd and 4th holes with back-to-back birdies to move into red figures before adding another birdie on the 6th. Maclauchlan played the remainder of his round bogey-free to secure a share of medalist honors.
Four players finished one stroke behind the leaders at one-under-par 69 to earn spots in Final Qualifying.
Daniel Suter from Gaithersburg, Md., tallied four birdies, a bogey, and a double bogey en route to a one-under-par 69 performance, earning him a spot in Final Qualifying.
Gregory Piecyznski, PGA, from Arlington, Va., posted a near bogey-free round. The George Mason coach carded two birdies and a bogey, resulting in a score of one-under-par 69 to secure his place in Final Qualifying.
Charles Winegardner, PGA, from Lothian, Md., started strong with a birdie on his opening hole. He added three more birdies throughout his round, but also recorded a bogey and a double bogey, finishing with a one-under-par 69 to claim his spot in Final Qualifying.
Gareth Steyn (a) from Mt. Pleasant, S.C., also advanced after shooting a one-under-par 69. Steyn finished his round with six birdies and five bogeys, but he ended on a high note, with two of his birdies coming on his final three holes to close out his qualifying round.
The final qualifying spot was determined by a four-man playoff beginning on the 10th hole. Ian Hildebrand (a) of Charles Town, W.V., Steve Delmar, PGA, of Gaithersburg, Md., Will Koras (a) of Lutherville, Md., and Tommy Evans (a) of Charles Town, W.V., all finished regulation at even-par 70.
Hildebrand and Delmar each carded pars on the opening playoff hole, while Koras and Evans made bogeys, splitting the playoff into two groups. Hildebrand and Delmar continued to battle for the final qualifying spot, while Koras and Evans competed for second alternate honors.
On the second playoff hole, Hildebrand secured the final qualifying position with a par, while Delmar earned first alternate status after making bogey. Koras claimed second alternate honors with a birdie.
The seven advancing players now turn their attention to U.S. Open Final Qualifying in the coming weeks as they aim to qualify for the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
The MSGA would like to thank the staff and members of The Club at P.B. Dye for hosting the U.S. Open Local Qualifier.
MSGA Mission
To serve, grow, and advance the game of golf in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
