U.S. Open: Monday final sectional qualifier rounds preview
Dallas, Texas
58 players for 3 spots
Many professionals from Texas often like to stay in their home state for qualifying.
At Lakewood CC we’ll have Hunter Mahan in his home city, as well as veteran PGA TOUR winners Woody Austin, Ryan Palmer, Troy Matteson, Derek Ernst and Bob Estes.
One of the top juniors is Houston native Cole Hammer. The 17-year-old committed to the University of Texas back in 2014 and was the third-youngest to play in the U.S. Open in 2015.
Another 17-year-old is Shuai Ming Wong. The Chinese youngster teamed with fellow 17-year-old and University of Alabama commit, Frankie Capan, to win the 2017 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at Pinehurst.
Younger than Hammer and Wong is Noah Goodwin. The 16-year-old is under the tutelage of Jordan Spieth’s coach, Cameron McCormick, and advanced to match play at the U.S. Amateur each of the past two years.
A wily vet compared to the last three is 18-year-old Philip Barbaree. He was once a top-ranked junior and is now a key cog on the LSU golf team.
Amateur Mike McCoy isn’t far from playing in as many USGA events as years lived. The 54-year-old is assured of his 51st at this summer’s U.S. Senior Open and could make it 52 at Erin Hills. He was one of the oldest Walker Cup members when he represented the U.S. in 2015.