Monday was a day for dreams to either come true or be dashed as hundreds of golfers descended on 10 final qualifying sites during “Golf’s Longest Day.”
The goal: Los Angeles Country Club, site of the 123rd U.S. Open.
The 10 qualifiers required golfers to navigate 36-hole marathons, with each offering fewer than a handful of advancing spots. Many of the golfers in these final qualifiers had already first toughed it out through an 18-hole local qualifying site.
This last phase Monday included past major champions, a slew of LIV golfers and dozens of amateurs, all hoping to punch their tickets to the third men’s major of the year, June 15-18, near Hollywood.
First, some quick hits:
- Nick Hardy had the round of the day with a 61 on his second 18 at Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ohio. Preston Summerhays and Samuel Stevens each shot a 62 at their qualifiers.
- Five of the 10 locations needed a playoff to settle things.
- Thirteen amateurs made it through. Five of those ams won or tied for the top spot in their respective qualifiers.
An insane day for men's college golf.
11 collegiate golfers qualified for the U.S. Open.
• Michael Thorbjornsen – Stanford
• Karl Vilips – Stanford
• Isaac Simmons – Liberty
• Michael Brennan – Wake Forest
• Gordon Sargent – Vanderbilt
• Brendan Valdes – Auburn
• Nick…— Jared Doerfler (@DoerflerJared) June 6, 2023
Here’s a closer look at those who got through as well as some notable names who fell short.