Columbus, Ohio – Stewart Cink doesn’t care that he turned 50 last month. He will do anything to play at the US Open, even if it means playing 36 holes against some kids who weren’t even born when he first played 27 years ago.
Cink received an encouraging speech from his wife on Monday for staying patient, and he birdied five over six holes at Brookside Golf & Country Club and became one of 11 players to secure spots in the qualifier in Columbus, Ohio.
“I just love playing in majors,” said Cink, a former British Open champion. “I’m a one trick pony and you can’t be a one trick pony if you can’t do your trick. I will forever try to qualify.”
Cink was among 45 players aiming to qualify for the US Open, being played June 15-18 at the Los Angeles Country Club. About 45% of the 156-strong field must qualify.
Columbus was among the 10 final qualifying locations from California to Canada, from New Jersey to Florida, some of which need sudden death playoffs to see who gets in.
Columbus had the most PGA Tour players due to the Memorial tournament that ended Sunday. Viktor Hovland is already released for the US Open. He still showed up in qualifiers to caddy 36 holes for former Oklahoma State roommate Zach Bauchou, who didn’t make it.
The medalist was Olin Browne Jr., son of PGA Tour winner Olin Browne, and the connection to qualifying made the long day so appealing.
It was 2005 when the father hit 73 on the first 18 holes and was contemplating retiring because he was so far behind. Browne changed his mind and thought, “How can you quit something and then tell your kids not to quit.”
He shot 59 points that day and two weeks later was in the penultimate group at Pinehurst No. 2. The son remembers that moment well.
“He called me. I said, ‘How did it go?'” said Olin Browne Jr. “He said, ‘Oh, I shot 69.’ And I said, ‘Sorry you missed it.’ He said, ‘No, no.’ I shot 59.’ I misunderstood him. It’s a living memory. I remember yelling at him in the car on the drive home.”
And now it’s the son’s turn and the father couldn’t be prouder.
“It’s gratifying that he was able to do something that makes him feel like all the work was worth it,” the father said. “It’s the national championship and it’s a big deal. Qualifying is something we had to deal with every year when we weren’t touring regularly.”
Browne Jr. had rounds of 66 (The Lakes) and 67 (Brookside) to lead 11 qualifiers, the most of any 10 Final qualifiers.
Others who left Columbus included Davis Thompson, Eric Cole, Nico Echavarria, Corey Pereira, Luke List, Patrick Rodgers, Kevin Streelman, Nick Dunlap, and David Nyfall. The final three came in a four-way playoff. The strange man in attendance was former US Open champion Lucas Glover and it was painful to watch.
Glover shot 9 under 63 with a three putt on the final hole at The Lakes. But he struggled at Brookside with a 73. In the third playoff hole, Glover missed a 2-foot par putt and was eliminated. He recently switched to a long putter in hopes it would cure what he called “yips.”
Four players from LIV Golf made the playoffs – Sebastian Munoz made it out of the Maryland qualifier while Carlos Ortiz progressed through Florida, both in the playoffs. David Puig scored 64 points to secure one of five places in Los Angeles. Last month Sergio Garcia survived a qualifier in Texas.
Florida senior Fred Biondi gave up his dispensation to win the NCAA title and said he would turn pro. That spot went to first alternate for England qualifier Jordan Gumberg, based on a USGA formula for allocating spots.
In other qualifications:
– In the second Ohio qualifier, Taylor Pendrith and Nick Hardy were among the four PGA Tour players who advanced. Fifth place came from a playoff won by Alex Schaake over Max Moldovan in a playoff that lasted nine holes and ended with Schaake’s 3-foot birdie putt in the dark.
– In Los Angeles, UCLA sophomore Omar Morales led five qualifiers, with two places to be decided in a 3-on-2 playoff Tuesday morning at Hillcrest Country Club. Charley Hoffman, Preston Summerhays and Josh Anderson are in the playoffs.
— In Toronto, the qualifier before the Canadian Open, Ryan Gerard led three qualifiers. Gerard played well enough this year to earn temporary special membership on the PGA Tour. The other two were Vincent Normann and Ryan Armor. Among those missing was Michael Block, the California club pro who finished 15th in the PGA championship.
– In Florida, Ortiz won a 3-on-1 playoff for last place against Wesley Bryan and Luis Gagne. The other two qualifiers were Austen Truslow and Brendan Valdes.
– In Georgia, former NCAA champion Gordon Sargent of Vanderbilt led three qualifiers.
– In North Carolina, Yuto Katsuragawa of Japan led five qualifiers. Among those who missed it was North Carolina native Harold Varner III.
– In New Jersey, former US junior amateur champion Michael Thorbjornsen led four qualifiers. Thorbjornsen, who just finished his junior year at Stanford, will be playing at the US Open for the third time.
– In Maryland, Munoz made a 25-foot putt in a 4-on-2 playoff, joining four other qualifiers. Also among the playoff losers was Ben Kohles, who leads the Korn Ferry Tour points list.
– In Washington State, Jesse Schutte and Alexander Yang shared medal honors, securing the two spots available.
After the playoffs in Los Angeles, the field of the US Open will consist of 150 players. The USGA is reserving six spots for players who will break into the top 60 on Sunday – like Adam Schenk – and if the Canadian Open winner claims his second PGA Tour win since the last US Open.
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