U.S. Open: Monday final sectional qualifier rounds preview
Springfield, Ohio
77 players for 4 spots
The Springfield site feels like the spillover location for Columbus.
Located about 50 miles southwest of Muirfield Village where the Memorial is held, a handful of PGA TOUR pros are opting for this less heralded site.
A top-70 world ranking and three top-fives on the PGA TOUR in 2017 weren’t quite enough to get Tony Finau in the field. Instead, he’ll headline the action at Springfield Country Club.
He’ll be with fellow Utahan and Tour pro, Zac Blair, who may or may not play in his nifty eBay kicks.
University of Michigan sophomore Nick Carlson made a name for himself at the 2016 U.S. Amateur with his theatrics, where he almost qualified for the U.S. Open before stalling in the semifinals against eventual champion, Curtis Luck.
Another talented college player in Springfield is Chandler Blanchet, the Division II national champion from the University of West Florida.
Big 12 player of the year from Texas, Doug Ghim, and Big Ten all-conference performer at Illinois and 2016 Springfield medalist, Nick Hardy are in Ohio, too.
Even younger are 17-year-old Luke Kluver and 16-year-old Austin Greaser. According to the USGA, he’s believed to be the first high schooler from Nebraska to advance to sectional qualifying since 1972. Greaser made three birdies in a row, two in regulation and one in a 9-for-4 playoff, to advance. That’s clutch.
Thirty-six amateurs are in the field. Visit here for tee times.