SUMMIT, N.J. (June 2, 2025) – James Nicholas of Scarsdale, N.Y., Chris Gotterup of Little Silver, N.J., Roberto Diaz from Mexico, and amateur Benjamin James from Milford, Conn., qualified for the 125th U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club on Monday through final qualifying at Canoe Brook Country Club.
Nicholas earned medalist honors at Canoe Brook at 7-under par for the 36-hole qualifying round. Oakmont will be Nicholas’ U.S. Open Championship debut.
The Korn Ferry Tour member shot a 3-under par 67 on the South Course in the morning and backed that up with a 4-under par 68 on the North Course in the afternoon. In round two, the 2017 MGA Player of the Year made four birdies over a five-hole span from No. 8 to No. 12 to get to 7-under. Nicholas then birdied the par-4 17th before bogeying the par-4 18th.
“My game has been trending year over year. I have had this circled on my calendar since I was 15 years old,” said Nicholas afterward.
Nicholas added, “The MGA means so much to me. It’s the reason I am where I am. It prepared me in a way that I wouldn’t have been otherwise. To come back here and qualify for the U.S. Open at an MGA site, at Canoe Brook, is a dream come true.”
Gotterup and Diaz finished at 6-under par. Gotterup was 1-over after the morning round on the North before an afternoon 65 on the South Course lifted him into a qualifying spot. The PGA Tour member closed in his second round with a flurry, playing his last 10 holes in 6-under par, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 sixth.
“It clicked when it did, and it was a good feeling. The eagle was huge, and the last couple of holes were nice add-on birdies. I made a 6 or 7-footer for par on the last, which turned out to be a crucial putt,” said Gotterup.
The 2019 MGA Player of the Year added, “Last year, I left here 3-putting the 18th hole to miss by one [shot], and that car ride sucked. This car ride home will feel a lot better. I love coming back and playing at home.”
Diaz, who led after round one, carded a 1-under par 71 on the North Course in the afternoon. Diaz hadn’t made a bogey through his first 31 holes before making three over his last five. Diaz got to 10-under par after starting his back nine in round two with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12.
This will be Gotterup’s second U.S. Open Championship appearance. He finished T43 at The Country Club in 2022 after qualifying at Old Oaks and Century in Westchester. Diaz’s appearance will be his first since 2017 at Erin Hills Golf Course, where he missed the cut.
James’ birdie on the par-4 15th on the North Course moved him to 5-under par for the day and one shot clear of four golfers who finished at 4-under. The birdie followed a bogey on No. 14 for the 22-year-old.
It is the second straight year the current University of Virginia Cavalier qualified for the U.S. Open at Canoe Brook. James was co-medalist in 2024.
Canoe Brook was one of 10 hosting sites for final qualifying on Monday. Nine took place in the U.S. and one in Canada.
Related: Preview | U.S Open Final Qualifying Hub
