InstagramXFacebook
  LOGIN  |  JOIN  |  INFO  |  BENEFITS

'Golf's Longest Day': 2014 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying recap
U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying is complete at 10 sites across the U.S., completing the notably tough qualifying process and ending what has come to be known as 'Golf's Longest Day'.

More than 700 golfers took aim at only 56 qualifying berths in Monday's wild day.

A handful of amateurs join Matthew Fitzpatrick and Oliver Goss -- exempt with their U.S. Amateur finishes -- in the U.S. Open field and will be heading to Pinehurst representing the amateur ranks.

Here's a recap of the amateurs moving on -- and those who just missed -- to the 2014 U.S. Open:

DALY CITY, CALIF.

Two amateurs are moving on out of the loaded Daly City qualifier after rounds at Lake Merced Golf Club and the famed Olympic Club's Ocean Course.

Stanford golfer Maverick McNealy, who, last week, battled Oklahoma State's Talor Gooch in an epic NCAA semifinals match, shot 7-under to take third place and one of five available berths in the U.S. Open.

McNealy caught fire in the middle of the day, going 7-under over an eight hole stretch that included two eagles.

"It's awesome, it's still sinking in," McNealy explained after learning he qualified. "The U.S. Open is a huge bucket list item, and I'm so excited to go play there this summer."

University of Illinois star Brian Campbell of Irvine finished 6-under and took the final qualifying position after finishing a shot better than first-alternate Craig Barlow, a professional.

"I just stuck to my game plan," Campbell said. "Sticking to a solid plan just makes it that much easier, so you don't have to think too much and just stay calm."

Cory McElyea, who advanced from the sectional qualifier to play in last year's U.S. Open at Merion, missed the cut by three shots Monday.

SEE FULL RESULTS »

CRESWELL, ORE.

Brandon McIver will serve as the first alternate but no amateurs are moving on our of the Emerald Valley qualifier.

Recently turned pro Zac Blair, a former amateur standout and BYU golfer, shot 7-under to take medalist honors and one of just two U.S. Open berths in the highly-competitive qualifier.

Ryann Ree was three shots back of McIver while Kevin Murphy and Jonathan Sanders were the other amateurs in contention in Oregon.

SEE FULL RESULTS »

PURCHASE, N.Y.

Recent NCAA individual champion Cameron Wilson of Stanford was the odd man out at Old Oaks Country Club and Century Country Club. Wilson shot 72-70 to finish 1-over and one shot out of a playoff for the fourth and final qualifying position.

Temple standout Brandon Matthews, who served as an alternate out of this qualifier last year, was 2-over for the day.

For his efforts, Wilson will be the No. 1 alternate as he finished ahead of pro Jamie Lovemark. Professionals Fran Quinn, Rob Oppenheim and James Renner join Dobyns as the four qualifiers from this sectional.

SEE FULL RESULTS »

VERO BEACH, FLA.

Former amateur standout -- but current pro -- Daniel Berger led all scorers and took medalist honors at Quail Valley Golf Club. he was 10-under for the day, beating second-place finisher Nicholas Lindheim by three shots.

Junior standout and recent University of Florida commit Sam Horsfield was one shot out of a playoff for the fourth and final berth and instead will serve as the lead alternate. LSU star Curtis Thompson shot even for the day and finished two shots out of the final qualifying spot tied with fellow amateurs Trey Valentine, M.J. Maguire and Scott Smyers.

SEE FULL RESULTS »

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO

Will Grimmer, a Cincinnati-area standout junior, fired a 5-under 65 in his afternoon round to punch his ticket to Pinehurst. The class of 2015 Ohio State commit finished second in the 36-hole qualifier and snagged one of just three berths awarded at Springfield Country Club.

Grimmer has quite the history at Pinehurst. Playing the resort's No. 1 course, he shot a 59 at last summer's North & South Junior. While the U.S. Open will surely be played under quite different conditions, Grimmer -- just a high school junior -- will undoubtedly be a storyline.

Andrew Dorn, who won last year's North & South Amateur at Pinehurst, is the first alternate. He shot 70-67 and finished just a shot back of the final qualifying spot. Daniel Stringfellow, another amateur from Roselle, Ill., is the second alternate.

SEE FULL RESULTS »

ROSWELL, GA.

LSU golfer Smylie Kaufman shot 67-75 to take one of just two qualifying positions at the Ansely Golf Club's Settindown Creek Course Monday.

Kaufman, who helped LSU reach match play last week at the NCAA Championship, shot a first-round 67 and led all players and hung on for an afternoon 75. His 2-under 142 finish was a shot better than fellow amateur Trevor Cone of Concord, N.C.

Cone will serve as the lead alternate from the qualifier.

Garrett Rank, the 2012 U.S. Mid-Amateur runner-up finished 12 shots back while Georgia Tech standout Oliver Schniederjans and reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion Doug Hanzel missed the cut, also.

SEE FULL RESULTS

MEMPHIS, TENN.

University of Alabama standout freshman Robby Shelton led all amateur qualifier at the Colonial Country Club sectional. He shot 70-66 to finish tied for eighth and three shots off the pace of medalist Hudson Swafford in a qualifier that featured many professional stars.

Arkansas standout Sebastian Cappelen of Denmark, UAB's Sam Love and Hunter Stewart, of Vanderbilt, tied for with two other players for the last qualifying berth and will be moving on to the U.S. Open. The trio shot 6-under 137 for the day and tied with former top-ranked amateur Brady Watt of Australia and Scott Langley of the PGA Tour.

Davis Riley, the recent Terra Cotta winner and an Alabama commit, was one shot off the pace. Both he and Austin Connelly finished on the outside looking in.

Reigning U.S. Junior Amateur champ Scottie Scheffler was two shots out of the last qualifying spot.

SEE FULL RESULTS »

HOUSTON, TX.

Cory Whitsett caught fire and finished as the medalist at the Lakeside Country Club sectional. He shot 66-66 to finish 12 under and five shots ahead of the runner-up. The 2012 U.S. Walker Cup team member and two-time NCAA champion will undoubtedly be a contender for low amateur honors at the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst.

Kolton Crawford, of the University of Arkansas, was the next closest amateur but fnished two shots out of a playoff for the fourth and final qualifying berth.

SEE FULL RESULTS »

Results: U.S. Open Final Qualifying
MedalistTXCory WhitsettHouston, TX50066-66=132
QualifierALSmylie KaufmanBirmingham, AL40067-75=142
QualifierOHWill GrimmerCincinnati, OH40070-65=135
QualifierCAMaverick McNealyPortola Valley, CA40067-69=136
QualifierCABrian CampbellIrvine, CA40067-70=137

View full results for U.S. Open Final Qualifying

ABOUT THE U.S. Open Final Qualifying

Final qualifying for the U.S. Open Championship. Played at various sites across the U.S. on the Monday a week and half before the U.S. Open. There is also a qualifier in Japan and in England. 36 holes of stroke play at each site.

View Complete Tournament Information

Latest in 

Amateurgolf.com, Inc.
6965 El Camino Real 105-631
Carlsbad, CA 92009

Instagram X Facebook YouTube