WEST ORANGE, N.J. (May 12, 2009) – Chris Dachisen of Warren, N.J., fired a three-under-par 68 to claim medalist honors and lead the field of 123 players during U.S. Open Championship local qualifying held Tuesday, May 12 at Essex County Country Club in West Orange, N.J. All qualifiers advance to sectional qualifying, the last stage before the 2009 U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage Black.

Two-time New Jersey PGA Player of the Year Frank Esposito of Florham Park, N.J., finished one shot behind Dachisen with a two-under-par round of 69. Greg Baker of Boonton, N.J., shot an impressive even-par round of 71 to finish third and advance to sectional qualifying. Amateurs Patrick Fillian of Belmar, N.J., and former Met Amateur champion Michael Stamberger of Plainfield, N.J., qualified with rounds of one-over-par 72. Craig Smith of Morristown, N.J., and Kevin Lawrence of Ocean, N.J., also carded rounds of 72 and earned a spot in a sectional qualifying round. Mark Yannotta of Whippany, N.J., shot a 73 and survived a four-man playoff to capture the last qualifying spot. Amateur Richard Kerper of Safety Harbor, Fla., and Martin Vybihal of West Caldwell, N.J., earned the first and second alternate spots, respectively, in a playoff.

Today’s event was one of five U.S. Open Local Qualifying Rounds conducted by the Metropolitan Golf Association. The event is open to both professional and amateur golfers with a USGA Handicap Index of 1.4 or better. Today’s qualifiers advance to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying, scheduled for Monday, June 8, at Century Country Club and Old Oaks Country Club, both in Purchase, N.Y. Sectional qualifying is the final stage before the 109th U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage State Park (Black Course) in Farmingdale, N.Y., on June 18-21.

Final Results