Aaron Baddeley, Alistair Presnell and Mathew Goggin have swollen Australia's contingent at next week's US Open golf championship to nine after battling through qualifying.
The trio will join Adam Scott, Jason Day, Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden, Marc Leishman and Marcus Fraser at the season's second major at Merion, the famed course in Pennsylvania where Australia's David Graham triumphed when it last hosted an Open in 1981.
Part of a 36-strong Australian contingent playing across eight of 11 sites on Monday in the US, Baddeley booked his place in Columbus, Ohio by fighting through an 11-way play-off for seven spots with a birdie on the first extra hole.
Baddeley, who had finished in an 11-way tie for ninth after two rounds, will be playing his eighth US Open.
"I played really solid today and I am really excited," said Baddeley, said who played in the final group on Sunday at the 2007 US Open.
"I love US Open-type golf where pars mean something so I am now really looking forward to getting to Merion."
Rod Pampling, who qualified last year, missed out by one shot in Ohio at seven-under-par while Scott Gardiner, at five-under, was also unlucky.
Gardiner was inside the mark after the morning session using borrowed clubs and pro-shop purchased shoes after American Airlines lost his sticks en route to the venue. Sadly, he couldn't continue the morning form.
Goggin finished early at six-under in Rockville, Maryland and had to face a lengthy wait before being confirmed as a starter at Merion, finishing tied fifth with nine spots available.
"I'm excited about going to Merion. I have heard so many things about it. It's an awesome golf course with so much history so to play any round there is going to be great let alone a US Open," Goggin said.
"I haven't played a major for a while and I'm looking forward to seeing if I've improved mentally. As you get older, you appreciate the opportunities a little more and I just can't wait to get out there."
Presnell, who made his US Open debut in 2012 at Olympic Club following a similar successful qualifying run, was forced into a playoff for the second year running.
He faced off with Americans Scott Stallings and Andrew Svoboda in a three-for-two play-off and booked his ticket when Stallings bogeyed the first playoff hole.
Having stalled after two bogeys in his second round, a side bet for dinner with his caddie spurred Presnell to make three birdies in a five-hole finishing stretch.
"To come out here and qualify for Merion is a dream come true," Presnell said.
"I'm pumped. It's been a rough last couple of months but having a few weeks off and stressing less has obviously helped.
"Last year tying for 29th at the Open was a good way to start my major career and it can only get better from there I hope."
In St Louis, Missouri, Chicago-based Australian golf pro Travis Johns found himself in a playoff with Canadian MacKenzie Hughes for a place at Merion but had to settle for a position on the alternate list.
没有评论:
发表评论