“Golf’s Longest Day” is what the USGA cash Monday as 9 Final Qualifying websites held 49 spots in subsequent week’s U.S. Open at The Country Club.
For Michael Thorbjornsen of Wellesley and Holden’s Fran Quinn, it was further lengthy as they every wanted two further holes to outlive an eight-for-three playoff in Purchase, New York, to earn their place in Brookline.
All eight gamers parred the primary gap at Old Oaks Country Club, with Thorbjornsen surviving from behind the inexperienced.
On the second playoff gap, the par-5 18th, Quinn hit a 58-degree wedge from 98 yards to inside three toes and made a birdie. Thorbjornsen was simply to the left of the inexperienced in two and acquired up and down for his 4. They then watched the second foursome all miss birdie putts to clinch their place within the 122nd U.S. Open.
Playing in the identical group as Quinn and Thorbjornsen, Korn Ferry Tour member Brandon Matthews of Pennsylvania additionally booked his passage by way of the playoff.
Thorbjornsen, 20, received the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2018 at Baltusrol and made the minimize on the U.S. Open in 2019 at Pebble Beach and is the reigning Massachusetts Amateur champion. He simply completed his sophomore season at Stanford, incomes a spot on the All-Pac-12 First Team.
He opened with a 3-under 67 at Century Country Club and adopted it up with a 1-over 71 at Old Oaks.
“It’s a long grind,” Thorbjornsen informed the Golf Channel, noting he began the day barely after 7 a.m. and concluded greater than 12 hours later.
Quinn, 57, performs on the PGA Tour Champions, and has appeared in 4 U.S. Opens, most not too long ago in 2014, tying for 56th place. He solely has two begins on the Champions Tour this 12 months, however will likely be taking part in this weekend in Wisconsin.
Quinn had a pair of 69s.
Quinn’s son, Owen, additionally had an opportunity in Purchase however got here up six pictures out of the combination at 4 over, taking pictures 70 at Century and 74 at Old Oaks.
Fran Quinn stated that he solely entered as a result of Owen occurred to be placing in his entry when he referred to as house someday over the winter.
“He said, do you really want to go?” Fran Quinn informed the Herald. “And I stated, ‘Yea, throw me in.’
“He got in at Taconic, and I got in at Taconic and I said, come on let’s go. When we finished the first round, we were both in really good shape.”
“Old Oaks is demanding. It’s tricky and the wind blows. It’s a hard golf course. If you can shoot under par over there you’re going to have a good chance. I was fortunate enough to do it but he is going to have a lot of chances. He’ll get to play in a lot of Opens.”
Fran Quinn stated he tried to qualify for the U.S. Open in 1988, when the event was final held at The Country Club, however got here up brief in a qualifier at Canoe Brook. He did play the 1987 Massachusetts Amateur at TCC, shedding to Kevin Johnson within the closing.
Quinn additionally certified the U.S. Open in 1992, 1994 and 1996. He completed forty third in 1994 at Oakmont.
Owen Quinn caddied for his father within the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, however Fran stated that his spouse, Lori, will likely be on the bag this time round.
Caleb Manuel of Topsham, Maine, was the co-medalist on the Purchase website at 3-under 137. He simply accomplished his sophomore 12 months at UConn and was a person co-champion on the Big East Tournament in April. He shared the highest spot with Chris Gotterup of New Jersey, who not too long ago turned professional after a collegiate profession at Rutgers and Oklahoma.
Hopkinton’s Jimmy Hervol is battling for a spot in Bend, Oregon. He carded a 4-under 68 within the opening spherical at Pronghorn Golf Club’s Nicklaus Course the place there are three spots up for grabs. Hervol, the runner-up on the Mass. Amateur in 2019 when it was contested on The Country Club’s primary course, is taking part in on PGA Tour Canada this summer season and missed the minimize within the first occasion of the season.
Source: www.bostonherald.com