Credit: IMG Junior Golf
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (June 11, 2012) -- Paul Casey withdrew from the 2012 U.S. Open Championship on Monday, June 11, because of a shoulder injury.
The alternate who will take his place in the field is Andy Zhang, an amateur from Reunion, Fla., who competed in sectional qualifying at Black Diamond Ranch (Quarry Course) at Lecanto, Fla. on June 4. Zhang, a 14-year-old (born Dec. 14, 1997), shot rounds of 70-72—142 to earn first alternate position.
Zhang, who is originally from the People’s Republic of China, will become the youngest to play in a U.S. Open since World War II. Tadd Fujikawa previously held that distinction; he was 15 at the 2006 Open at Winged Foot Golf Club.
Zhang will tee off at 8:21 a.m. PDT on Thursday from the 1st tee with Hiroyuki Fujita and Mark Wilson.
BRANDT SNEDEKER also withdrew from the 2012 U.S. Open Championship on Monday, June 11 because of a rib injury.
The alternate who will take his place is Jordan Spieth, an amateur from Dallas, Texas, who competed in sectional qualifying on June 4 in Houston, Texas (Lakeside Country Club). Spieth, the 2009 and 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, who played on the 2011 USA Walker Cup Team, shot rounds of 70-70—140 to earn first alternate position.
Spieth will tee off at 1:14 p.m. PDT on Thursday from the ninth tee with Bill Haas and Nick Watney.
ABOUT THE
U.S. Open Golf Championship
The U.S. Open is the biggest of the 15 national
championships conducted by the USGA.
Open
to amateurs and professionals. Amateurs gain
entry via USGA win or runner-up finishes while having the opportunity
to qualify alongside non-exempt professionals in an 18-hole "Local' qualifying followed
by 36-hole "Final" qualifying which is affectionately known as golf's longest day.
Highly-ranked amateurs will be exempted past the 18-hole Local Qualifying. See the
USGA website for details. And if you are exempt on any level be sure to apply by the deadline anyway.
The USGA intends to make the U.S. Open
the
most rigorous, yet fair, examination of golf
skills, testing all forms of shot-making. The
USGA prepares the course after careful
consideration of 14 different factors.
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