Two US Open Local qualifiers were held this week at Creekmoor Golf Course in Raymore, Missouri and Wichita Country Club in Wichita, KS. Each qualifier held three spots to move on to US Open Sectional qualifying.
At Creekmoor, 60 players fought for three qualifying spots. The first two spots were claimed by Jack Maguire and Matt Echelmeier, who both carded three-under 69. Maguire had six birdies on the day with three bogeys. Echelmeier similarly had five birdies with two bogeys.
The last qualifier from Creekmoor came from the last group on the course to the dismay of five players sitting at the next best score of even par, 72. Kyle Long shot a two-under, 70, despite the other two guys in his group shooting above 90. Long’s two birdies and an eagle on the Par-5, 13th helped him to advance by claiming the final qualifying spot.
At Wichita CC, 59 players competed through two weather delays, including a postponement to the next day. After players returned to finish their round on Day 2 of competition, five players carded three-under 68. Fisher Vollendorf, Kevin Ward, Nick Heinen, Curtis Yonke, and Drew Shepherd all were forced in to a playoff to determine the three who would advance to Sectional qualifying and who would be the first and second alternate.
After the first playoff hole, Curtis Yonke was eliminated and given the second alternate spot with a bogey on Hole 1 at Wichita CC.
The four players remaining continued to Hole 18 where Drew Shepherd made a bogey after a wayward drive kept him from getting it up and down for par. Shepherd claimed the first alternate position and Vollendorf, Ward, and Heinen grabbed a qualifying spot to Sectionals.
Good luck to all six players who qualified. For a field of results for each qualifier, see here and here.
