May 18th, 2012
Two Atlanta area courses hosted local qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Open, with a number of Georgia golfers advancing to sectionals in early June.
At Summer Grove in Newnan, Augusta’s Brad Arrington was the medalist with an 8-under 64. Mini-tour player Jonathan Fricke of Covington tied for 3rd at 68 and advanced in a playoff, scoring a birdie on the first extra hole.
Among the players missing the playoff by one shot were Newnan’s Matt Lawson, Atlanta’s Tim Schaetzel and recent Augusta State standout Henrik Norlander.
At Marietta CC, Mitch Krywulycz was medalist with a 6-under 64. Krywulycz was Norlander’s teammate on Augusta State’s national championship team in 2010 and 2011.
Current Georgia Tech golfer Anders Albertson of Woodstock was 2nd at 65, followed by Kennesaw State golfer Matt Nagy of Buena Vista at 66. Duluth’s Ben Greene, Nagy’s Kennesaw teammate, tied for 4th at 67 with Atlanta pros Curt Sanders and Richard Swift.
Jay McLuen, the 2011 Georgia Open champion, shot 68 and won a playoff for the final qualifying spot. Also shooting 68 were Towne Lake Hills assistant pro Bill Murchison, who is the second alternate, and Jonathan Keppler, a freshman at Kennesaw Mountain HS and the son of Marietta CC Director of Golf Stephen Keppler.
Ollie Schniederjans of Powder Springs, Albertson’s Georgia Tech teammate, shot 69 and missed the playoff by one stroke.
A number of Georgians advanced in qualifiers held outside the state. Here is a partial list:
Georgetown, S.C.: Kevin Kisner, ex-UGA golfer, PGA Tour member; Chip Deason, Evans.
Madison, Wis.: Bryant Odom, Cartersville, 72, medalist.
Carmel, Ind.: Justin Cho, Norcross, 68, 2nd.
Bluffton, S.C.: Mark Harrell, Hazlehurst, 71, 2nd; Daniel Mobley, Waynesboro, won playoff.
Bryan, Texas: Steve Gilley, Newnan native, 69, T5.
Nicholasville, Ky.: Billy Shida, Duluth, won playoff.
St. Augustine, Fla.: Jeff Cammon, St. Simons, 70, T3.
Wallace, N.C.: Chesson Hadley, ex-Georgia Tech, won playoff.