U.S. Open: Monday final sectional qualifier rounds preview
Summit, New Jersey
80 players for 5 spots
Former club pro turned PGA TOUR winner, Jim Herman, is one of the favorites to advance from Canoe Brook CC. The 39-year-old has ascended to No. 82 in the world thanks to a win at the 2016 Shell Houston Open and two top-10s on the PGA TOUR in 2017.
Another player with a good chance to advance is two-time U.S. Open participant, Cameron Wilson. The 24-year-old won the individual NCAA Championship in 2014 and was a first team all-American at Stanford.
A USGA legend is Nathan Smith. He’s won four U.S. Mid-Ams and one Four-Ball and has played in 40 USGA championships. However, the 38-year-old hasn’t played in a U.S. Open since missing the cut in 2004.
Andy Pope is a 33-year-old from Orlando who is seeking to qualify for his third straight U.S. Open. He made the cut in 2015 and advanced from local qualifying both times.
Former NHL player and current New York Islanders goalie coach Mike Dunham is as deft with the clubs as he is with a stick. His golf career features appearances at the 2007 and 2014 U.S. Mid-Am.
Matthew Dobyns is more known as a consistent qualifier for the PGA Championship as the New York native has twice won the PGA professional national championship. He’s also competed in a couple of U.S. Opens.