Four current or former members of the Georgia and Georgia Tech golf teams were among 17 players to advance from local U.S. Open qualifying at two Atlanta Golf area courses.
At Marietta Country Club, ex-Bulldog Kevin Kisner of Aiken, S.C., one of the top players on the Nationwide Tour this year, earned medalist honors with a 6-under 64. Macon’s Russell Henley, a junior on the Georgia golf team and the No. 1-ranked college player in the country, was second with a 65. Mini-tour pro Michael Saari of Lilburn was third with a 66.
Among those tying for fourth at 68 were former Georgia Tech standout Roberto Castro of Alpharetta, who already has a win and two runner-up finishes this year on the eGolf and Hooters Tours.
Also shooting 68 were Savannah’s Mark Silvers, who plays on the eGolf Tour, and fellow tour players David Skinns, Lee Williams, Matt Hendrix and Nationwide Tour veteran Peter Tomasulo.
Brookfield CC instructor Michael Parrott shot 69 and is the second alternate from the qualifier.
At Planterra Ridge, former Georgia Amateur champion David Noll of Dalton was medalist with a 7-under 65. Hooters Tour player Michael Lavery was second with a 67.
Kyle Scott, a member of the Georgia Tech golf team, was among six players to tie for third with a 68 to advance to sectional qualifying. Also shooting 68 were West Georgia golf team member Zach Lasseter and South Carolina’s George Bryan IV; Towne Lake Hills assistant professional Chris Nicol; Douglasville’s Mark Whisenant, who plays on the Hooters Tour; and fellow Hooters Tour player Scott Feaster.
Kyle Stiles of Athens shot 69 and took first alternate in a playoff over mini-tour pro Jimmy Brandt of Auburn, Ala.
Local qualifiers advance to Sectional qualifying, which will be played June 7 at various sites around the country. The Atlanta Sectional qualifier will be played at Ansley Golf Club’s Settindown Creek.
Other scores of Georgia golfers at Planterra Ridge included:
70: Jason Flowers, Albany; Jay McLuen, Forsyth; John Stembridge, Norcross (Auburn); Bill Murchison, Towne Lake Hills.
71: Parker Beck, Duluth; Jonathan Fricke, Covington; Karl Diewock, Fayetteville; Brent Witcher, Lawrenceville; Charlie King, Griffin Golf Course; Tyler Smith, Douglasville (a); Greg Hendrix, Peachtree City; Kalen Jensen, Alpharetta; Cory Howland, Douglasville; Brent Paul, Columbus (Georgia State).
Other scores of Georgia golfers at Marietta Country Club included:
70: Andrew Suggs, Fayetteville; David Denham, St. Simons; David Webb, Cuscowilla; Will Claxton, Swainsboro; Chris Kirk, Sea Island; Cameron Simmons, Acworth (a).
71: Anders Albertson, Woodstock (a); Derek Oakey, LaGrange; Harris English, Thomasville (UGA); Jordan Janico, Duluth (a); Kevin Roman, Cherokee CC; Seth Reeves, Duluth (Georgia Tech); Mookie Demoss, Duluth (a); Beau Bray, Dalton; Matt Lawton, Newnan; Drew Hickman, Macon (a).