John Wise, a professional from Portland, Ore., shot 5-under-par 67 to take medalist honors in leading the field of 102 players who competed today in U.S. Open Local qualifying at the par-72 Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Wash.
The other five players to advance from this Local qualifier to the Sectional qualifier are Damian Telles of The Dalles, Ore., Zach Bixler of Richland, Wash., Derek Barron of Lakewood, Wash., amateur Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C. and amateur Dan Whitaker of Ellensburg, Wash.
The 2017 U.S. Open Championship will be held June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisc.
The Washington State Golf Association (WSGA) is the local representative of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and conducted this local qualifier for the U.S. Open Championship.
Wise started his round a bogey on the par-4 first hole, and was still only even par after seven holes, but then birdied four the next five holes and added another birdie on the par-5 15th to secure medalist honors. Wise played on the University of Washington men’s golf team, graduating in 2011, and now plays on the PGA TOUR supplemental tours.
Bixler, also a UW grad, made the turn at 3-under and cruised in with a 1-under on the back for his 68.
Crisologo just finished his junior season at Simon Fraser University in B.C., where he had seven top-10 finishes and was named the GNAC Player of the Year and named to the All Conference First Team.
Barron stood at even-par after 14 holes, but finished eagle-birdie-par-birdie to tie for second, a shot behind Wise. Telles shot 5-under par 31 on the back nine, which included an eagle 3 on the par-5 18th. Telles qualified for the 2004, 2005 and 2008 U.S. Junior Amateur, and played on the University of Idaho men’s golf team before turning professional.
Whitaker birdied two of his last three holes, including a birdie on the par-5 18th, to take the final available spot. Whitaker finished runner-up in the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur, held that year at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.
The shot of the day came from Scott Cherry, a PGA professional at Heron Lakes Golf Club in Portland, Ore. On his final hole of the day, the par-5 18th, Cherry hit driver-driver, holing out from the fairway for a double-eagle two, vaulting him from 1-over par, well outside the cutline, to 2-under, which secured him the First Alternate position.
Scott Cherry (Portland) goes driver-driver for a DOUBLE EAGLE on the 18th @WineValleyGC! #RoadToErinHills ⛳️
Scores: https://t.co/J3XJ113liP pic.twitter.com/GGCbJrtok4— WSGA Championships (@WSGAChampions) May 18, 2017
Click here for final hole-by-hole scoring of this Local qualifier.
The USGA accepted a total of 9,485 entries for the 2017 U.S. Open Championship. The number of entries is fifth-highest, behind the record of 10,127 accepted for the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2. The entries came from golfers in all 50 states, including 150 from Wisconsin, as well as the District of Columbia and 66 foreign countries.
To be eligible, golfers must either be a professional, or be an amateur with a Handicap Index of 1.4 or less.
Local qualifying, which is played over 18 holes at 113 sites in the United States, took place between May 2-18. Sectional qualifying will be contested over 36 holes and held at 10 sites throughout the U.S. on Monday, June 5, as well as on May 22 in Japan and May 29 in England. In the Northwest, the Sectional Qualifier will be held at Tacoma Country and Golf Club in Lakewood, Wash.
Founded in 1922, the WSGA is a 501c4 non-profit, amateur golf association governed by men and women volunteers. Serving over 68,000 individual members at more than 550 member golf clubs and 270 golf courses throughout the state of Washington and Northern Idaho, the WSGA works to continually expand the game of golf to people of all backgrounds.
The WSGA also serves as a statewide representative of the USGA and works closely with a number of allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.