U.S. Open: Monday final sectional qualifier rounds preview
Lakewood, Washington
70 players for 4 spots
The talent level begins to thin out at these last few remaining qualifier sites. The Washington site features a lot of names we aren’t too familiar with now, but could be in the future.
Several players competing on Canada’s Mackenzie Tour in Vancouver will make the three-hour drive south to Tacoma Country & Golf Club for the Lakewood qualifier.
Former University of Georgia Lee McCoy standout is cutting his teeth in Canada, but he’s no stranger to the spotlight. In 2016, the ex-Walker Cup member tied for sixth at the 2016 NCAA Championship and placed fourth at the PGA TOUR’s Valspar Championship and bested Jordan Spieth there on Sunday. McCoy also competed at the 2015 U.S. Open.
Speaking of 23-year-olds who’ve placed top 10 on the highest level, meet Jordan Niebrugge. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy introduced himself to the world by taking sixth place for low amateur honors at the 2015 Open Championship. Niebrugge’s hopeful to play at Erin Hills 20 miles west of his hometown of Mequon.
The 2016 individual NCAA champion, Aaron Wise, will be in the field. He also led Oregon to a 2016 team national championship and runner-up honors this year. He made it through qualifying to compete at Oakmont in 2016.
Remarkably still only 26-years-old, Tadd Fujikawa will be in Lakewood. He was the youngest at the time in 2006 to play in a U.S. Open at age 15. The charismatic Hawaiian next became the second youngest to make the cut at a PGA TOUR event in his home state at the Sony Open. Since then, he’s largely disappeared from the golf eye.