Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Lee, Huff advance in U.S. Open qualifying
5/10/2021 4:30:00 PM | Men's Golf
Fresno State’s Kevin Huff was one of five golfers to advance out of local qualifying in Madera on Monday in the first step toward potentially playing the 2021 United States Open.
MADERA, Calif. – Former Fresno State golfer Alex Lee and current Bulldog Kevin Huff were two of the five golfers to place in the top five during United States Open local qualifying on Monday at Dragonfly Golf Club in Madera.
Lee, who played at Fresno State from 2015-19 and twice competed in the NCAA Regionals (2018 & 2019), earned medalist honors at 7-under-par (66) in the 84-man field, which had five of the 500 final qualifying spots up for grabs. Huff was two strokes back at 5-under-par (68) in a four-way tie for second. Local qualifying is played over 18 holes at 108 sites in the United States and two in Canada.
Lee and Huff will next compete in final qualifying on either May 24 or June 7. Final qualifying, played over 36 holes, will be conducted at 10 U.S. sites. One is set for Monday, May 24, in Texas, while nine are scheduled on June 7: two in Ohio and one each in California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Washington.
The USGA accepted a total of 9,069 entries for the 121st U.S. Open Championship on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif. The U.S. Open will be held at the public course for the second time on June 17-20, 2021.
More than 9,000 U.S. Open entries were received for the ninth consecutive time and the 12th time overall. The USGA accepted entries for the 2021 U.S. Open from golfers in all 50 states, including 1,222 from host state California, as well as the District of Columbia and 70 foreign countries. To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional.
The number of fully exempt players will increase with the inclusion of the top 60 point leaders and ties from the Official World Golf Ranking®, as of May 24 and June 7. The winner of the PGA Championship (May 20-23) and any multiple winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship will also earn exemptions.
In 2008, the South Course at Torrey Pines hosted one of the most dramatic U.S. Opens when Tiger Woods outdueled Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff to win his third U.S. Open title and record-tying ninth USGA championship. Woods made par on the first extra hole after the two were tied following an 18-hole playoff. Woods had forced the playoff by making a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of regulation play.
USGA Championship Qualifying
2021 U.S. Open – Local Qualifying
Course: Dragonfly Golf Club – Par 73 (Madera, Calif.)
Note: Top 5 advance to final qualifying
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1. Alex Lee: -7 (66)
T-2. Kevin Huff: -5 (68)
T-2. Blake Hathcoat: -5 (68)
T-2. Michael Weaver: -5 (68)
T-2. Blake Bourelle -5 (68)
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Lee, who played at Fresno State from 2015-19 and twice competed in the NCAA Regionals (2018 & 2019), earned medalist honors at 7-under-par (66) in the 84-man field, which had five of the 500 final qualifying spots up for grabs. Huff was two strokes back at 5-under-par (68) in a four-way tie for second. Local qualifying is played over 18 holes at 108 sites in the United States and two in Canada.
Lee and Huff will next compete in final qualifying on either May 24 or June 7. Final qualifying, played over 36 holes, will be conducted at 10 U.S. sites. One is set for Monday, May 24, in Texas, while nine are scheduled on June 7: two in Ohio and one each in California, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New York, South Carolina and Washington.
The USGA accepted a total of 9,069 entries for the 121st U.S. Open Championship on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif. The U.S. Open will be held at the public course for the second time on June 17-20, 2021.
More than 9,000 U.S. Open entries were received for the ninth consecutive time and the 12th time overall. The USGA accepted entries for the 2021 U.S. Open from golfers in all 50 states, including 1,222 from host state California, as well as the District of Columbia and 70 foreign countries. To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional.
The number of fully exempt players will increase with the inclusion of the top 60 point leaders and ties from the Official World Golf Ranking®, as of May 24 and June 7. The winner of the PGA Championship (May 20-23) and any multiple winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship will also earn exemptions.
In 2008, the South Course at Torrey Pines hosted one of the most dramatic U.S. Opens when Tiger Woods outdueled Rocco Mediate in a 19-hole playoff to win his third U.S. Open title and record-tying ninth USGA championship. Woods made par on the first extra hole after the two were tied following an 18-hole playoff. Woods had forced the playoff by making a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole of regulation play.
USGA Championship Qualifying
2021 U.S. Open – Local Qualifying
Course: Dragonfly Golf Club – Par 73 (Madera, Calif.)
Note: Top 5 advance to final qualifying
Â
1. Alex Lee: -7 (66)
T-2. Kevin Huff: -5 (68)
T-2. Blake Hathcoat: -5 (68)
T-2. Michael Weaver: -5 (68)
T-2. Blake Bourelle -5 (68)
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Players Mentioned
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