hree Atlanta area golf courses hosted U.S. Open qualifiers in mid-May, two of them local qualifiers for the men and a sectional qualifier for the women.
The men played on consecutive days at Marietta Country Club and Atlanta National, with the top eight finishers in each of the two qualifiers advancing to sectional qualifying in early June. The top eight women at Druid Hills GC earned spots in the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open, which will played at Sebonak GC in suburban New York June 27-30.
The qualifier at Atlanta National required a second day, as a playoff for the final two spots was halted by darkness. Sung Back, a pro from Rossville, and Jacob Tilton, a member of the Armstrong Atlantic golf team from Evans, got the last two spots, with tour player Brent Witcher of Atlanta and Georgia College golfer Bryan Fox of Roswell the first two alternates.
All four players shot 1-over 73, as did Alpharetta amateur Reid Rathburn, the first player eliminated from the playoff.
Taking medalist honors with a 3-under was Atlanta pro Jordan Mitchell. Denny Lucas, a mini-tour player from Williamson, and Georgia Southern golfer Matt Mierzejewski, a member of the Georgia Southern golf team from Cumming, were next at 70, followed by mini-tour player Wade Binfield of Fayetteville at 71.
Shooting 72 to qualify were recent Georgia Tech standout James White of Acworth, a rookie on the Web.com Tour, and Mercer golfer Hans Reimers.
Among those missing the playoff by one shot were Georgians Kalen Jensen, Eddie Lee, Kevin Durkin, Ben Lee, Chase Jones, Bryn Powers, Maurice Jeffries and James Beale, Reimers’ teammate at Mercer.
Others who failed to qualify included ex-Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, seven-time Georgia PGA Player of the Year Tim Weinhart, veteran Web.com Tour player Scott Dunlap, and two of the state’s top amateurs – David Noll and Mark Strickland.
Richard Swift, a mini-tour player living in Tucker, was medalist in the qualifier at Marietta CC with a 3-under 67.
Tying for 2nd at 69 were 2012 Georgia Open champion Jay McLuen of Forsyth; mini-tour player Mitch Krywulycz, a member of Augusta State’s NCAA Championship teams in 2010 and ’11; current Auburn golfer Dominic Bozzelli; and recent Auburn player Patton Kizzire, and amateur Joel Alexander of Florence, Ala.
Three players tied for the final spot, with North Alabama golf team member Michael Peter advancing in a playoff over Kennesaw State golfer Jimmy Beck of Columbus. Both shot 70, as did UGA golfer Lee McCoy of Clarkesville, who did not take part in the playoff and is second alternate behind Beck.
Among those missing the playoff by one shot with scores of 71 were Georgia Tech golfers Ollie Schniederjans and Anders Albertson, Clemson’s Billy Kennerly and Wake Forest’s Charlie Harrison, all Atlanta area residents. Also shooting 71 were pros Mark Silvers of Savannah and Michael Raines of Marietta.
Other Georgians who failed to advance from the qualifier included Georgia PGA members Bill Murchison and Matthew Evans; 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur champion Hyeon Bo Shim; PGA Tour rookie Henrik Norlander, a member of Augusta State’s two recent NCAA Championship teams and former teammate Taylor Floyd; Georgia Tech golfers Seth Reeves and Michael Hines; and multiple GSGA champions Lee Knox and Billy Mitchell.
Georgians advancing from local qualifiers held outside the state include: recent UGA golfer Bryden Macpherson in Florida; current Bulldog Michael Cromie in North Carolina; and three Georgians from a qualifier at Sawgrass CC in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Sharing medalist honors at 70 were Georgia Southern golfer Scott Wolfes of St. Simons Island, and Savannah’s Tim O’Neal, a recent winner on the LatinoAmerican Tour. Chris Johnson of Brunswick advanced with a 71, with Tommy Schaff of Savannah first alternate at 72. Evans mini-tour pro Chip Deason and Georgia Tech golfer Shun Yat Hak are first alternates from qualifiers in Florida.
The U.S. Women’s Open qualifier at Druid Hills was dominated by LPGA Tour players, who claimed seven of the eight spots, with a Symetra Tour player the other qualifier.
Jane Park and Symetra Tour player Macarena Silva were co-medalists at 1-under 143, with LPGA veteran Laura Diaz 3rd at 144. Austin Ernst and Amelia Lewis were next at 145, followed by Kristy McPherson, Kris Tamulis and former Chick-fil-A Charity Championship winner Jenny Rosales at 146.
LPGA players Brooke Pancake and Karen Stupples earned the first two alternate spots at 147 in a playoff that included five players, among them Newnan’s Ji Eun Baik, the qualifier’s low amateur. Baik was among the leaders after a 70 in the morning round, but shot 77 in the afternoon, including a triple bogey on the par-4 12th.
Among the Georgians who failed to qualify were juniors Ashlan Ramsey, Rachel Dai and Jessica Haigwood, and LPGA/Symetra Tour players Reilley Rankin, Dori Carter, Jean Reynolds and Lacey Agnew. Rankin, a member of Georgia’s 2001 national championship team, shot 69 in the afternoon round after an 82 in the morning that included a 46 on her final nine, with a 10 on her 18th hole of the day, the par-5 ninth.