J.P. Hayes and David Morland IV Lead Twenty-Two Qualifiers into U.S. Open
SUMMIT, NJ-PGA Touring Pro David Morland IV, of North Bay, Ontario and two-time PGA Tour Winner JP Hayes from El Paso, TX both finished with an impressive 8-under par 134, to share medalist honors at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Round held on Monday, June 7 at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, NJ. Morland and Hayes led a field of 138 golfers vying for twenty-two spots in the 104th U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Montauk, NY on June 17-20.
Morland, whose best finish on the PGA Tour is t-5th at the 2001 Bell Canadian Open, fired an opening round, 5-under par 67 at The North Course and followed with a 3-under-par 67 at The South Course in the afternoon. Morland last qualified for the US Open in 1995, which was the last time the Open was held at Shinnecock Hills, when he missed the cut by 3 strokes. Hayes finished T-64th in last year’s US Open at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill.
Other notable PGA Touring Pros who qualified were Matt Gogel (68 – 70 = 138), Mark Brooks (68 – 70 = 138), Dudley Hart (71 – 65 = 136), J.J. Henry (71 – 68 = 139), Dennis Paulson (67 – 69 = 136) and Kevin Stadler (68 – 69 = 137).
The ten-man playoff that for the final qualifying spot was called due to darkness as five players remained on the course. Peter Fowler (66-74) from Australia, Matthew Cannon (68 – 72) from Huntersville, NC, Steve Pate (67 – 73) from Agoura Hills, CA, Ricky Barnes (72 – 68) from Scotsdale, AZ and Scott Hend (71 – 69) from Australia each shot a 140, survived the first four playoff holes and returned at 8 AM the following morning, June 8th, to determine the final qualifying spot and the four alternates. Hend and Cannon birdied both the first playoff hole, but Hend claimed the final spot with a par on the following hole.
The field of 138 competitors played a round at each of the two spectacular Canoe Brook layouts. Complete results are attached. For more information contact Scott Peper of the MGA at (914) 347-GOLF or visit the MGA website @ www.mgagolf.org.
A complete list of the final results is attached. Live scoring was provided by the USGA’s TPP RealTime system. For more information contact Tommy Dee or Gene Westmoreland of the MGA at (914) 347-GOLF or visit the MGA website @ www.mgagolf.org.
