Wagner Qualifies for U.S. Open at Shinnecock
Columbus, OH-Johnson Wagner, winner of five consecutive MGA titles from 2001-02 and current member of the Nationwide Tour, shot rounds of 67 and 70 for a five-under total to earn one of 33 spots in the U.S. Open June 17-20 at the famed Shinnecock Hills GC in Southampton, NY.
Wagner persevered his way through the 36-hole marathon, despite a field of 184 players, by far the biggest and strongest field of all the sectional qualifiers.
Timothy Clark (67-62=129) of Chapel Hill, NC who finished third in last years PGA Championship, led an impressive field of qualifiers that included Duffy Waldorf, Alex Cejka, Jeff Maggert, Aaron Baddeley, and former British Open champion Mark Calcaveccia who tied with Wagner at 137.
Among the names failing to qualify were Jesper Parnavik, Mark O’Meara, Tom Lehman, Hank Kuehne, Craig Perks, Len Mattice, Paul Azinger and Scott McCarron.
Rob Labritz, formerly the head professional at GlenArbor GC in Bedford, NY, missed his chance to qualify after shooting 68-74=142, to miss by five strokes, at Woodmont CC in Rockville, Md.
