Bigley, Dean and Berliner Lead First Stage US Open Qualifying at Albany
VOORHEESVILLE, N.Y. – First stage qualifying for the 124th U.S. Open Championship was conducted by the New York State Golf Association at Albany Country Club on Monday.
Eighty-four players competed for five qualifying places and two alternate positions into one of the final stage qualifying sites in early June. The national open championship itself will be hosted at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina, June 13-16.
Related: Final Results / Photos / U.S. Open Home
Bryan Bigley, a Schenectady native, was the qualifying medalist with 5-under 67 on the stern Robert Trent Jones, Sr. layout.
Amateur player Kellen Dean of Saratoga Springs also finished the qualifier under par at 2-under. The 18-year-old is the defending NYS Boys’ 18U Junior Amateur Champion, winning the state title last July in Lake Placid.
Scott Berliner, of Lake Luzerne, and Yohann Benson of Canada tied at even par 72.
A 6-for-1 playoff decided the final qualifying spot for a group tied at 1-over after 18 holes. The playoff began on began on No. 10 at Albany. Amateur players Connor Lyon of Canada and Sean Paul Owen of Corning each birdied the opening hole to seperate themselves from the pack, and played two more holes before Lyon made a par to take the final qualifying spot.
Owen is the first alternate. Max Theodorakis of Connecticut is the second Alternate.
The golf course setup at 6,923 yards and played to a par of 72.
