Eight Advance through U.S. Open Local at Whippoorwill
ARMONK, N.Y. (May 14, 2014) –Seven players left the Whippoorwill Club one step closer to playing in the 114th U.S. Open after advancing 
through the Local Qualifying Round. Two more returned on the morning of the 15th to battle it out in a playoff for the eighth and final qualifying position.
Related: Full Results
2013 MGA Player of the Year amateur Max Buckley of Rye, N.Y., was one of five co-medalists who shot matching scores of 2-under 69. Buckley, who finished T-6 at last year’s Sectional Qualifying Round made an eagle on the par 4 second hole to give him the edge he needed to continue to have a low round.
The 2013 MGA Senior Open champion Craig Thomas of White Plains, N.Y., Timothy Hegarty of Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., amateur Brian Williams of New York, N.Y., and Kent St. Charles of Mount Vernon, N.Y., were the other co-medalists and will also make their way to the Sectional Qualifying Round.
Thomas, the Head Professional at Metropolis Country Club in nearby White Plains, N.Y., last played in the Sectional Qualifying Round in 2012 at Canoe Brook where he finished 14th. Williams has also made it to the Sectional in the past - he played last year at Old Oaks and Century. Hegarty and St. Charles have both been playing on the mini tour circuit for the past couple of years.
With five players tied at 1-under 70, a playoff was needed to determine the final positions. Kevin Ausserlechner of West Harrison, N.Y. , and Colin Dolph of Huntington, N.Y. survived through a playoff to advance.
After a morning playoff, Mike Gilmore of Bethel, Conn., took the eighth and final qualifying position. Amateur Hyun Cheol Lee of Bayside, N.Y. is the first alternate, and amateur James Nicholas of Scarsdale, N.Y. is the second alternate.
Whippoorwill played to a par 71 at 6,625 yards. This was the fourth and final Local Qualifying Round conducted by the MGA. The MGA is hosting a Sectional Qualifying Round on June 2 at Century and Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., one of ten held throughout the country. From there, the qualifiers head to Pinehurst for the 114th U.S. Open on June 9 -15.
