STREAMSONG, Fla. – Fifty-six players began the day fighting for three spots in the 119th U.S. Open Championship. Thirty-six holes later, three players are headed to Pebble Beach.
Callum Tarren, Luis Gagne and Guillermo Pereira advanced to the U.S. Open on Monday through sectional qualifying, conducted by the Florida State Golf Association, on the Black Course at Streamsong Resort.
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Luis Gagne, Guillermo Pereira, Callum Tarren |
Tarren, of England, earned medalist honors with a 36-hole total of 14-under 132. Gagne, of Orlando, Fla., posted a 12-under 134 to secure a spot in the championship, while Pereira, of Chile, grabbed the final qualifying spot with a 11-under 135.
It will be the first U.S. Open Championship for Tarren and Pereira, while Gagne will play in his second-straight championship
“It’s fantastic. I missed out by a shot last year in England,” Tarren said. “I came here with the same attitude as last year, you’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose.”
Tarren got off to a very strong start in the first round, posting a 9-under 64 to set a course record on the Black Course. The Web.com Tour player finished the morning with nine birdies and an eagle to hold a one-shot lead over the rest of the field.
He eagled the first hole again in the afternoon and fired another 30 on the front nine. After a double-bogey on the 11th, Tarren bounced back with a birdie on the 12th to move back to 14-under.
On the 18th, Tarren hit his second shot just short of the green into the lip of the bunker. After being granted free relief because of stairs, he two-putted for par to secure medalist honors.
“I think the adrenaline from this morning carried me through this afternoon,” Tarren said.
Gagne, the 2018 U.S. Open low amateur, earned his second-straight berth into the U.S. Open on Monday. The native Floridian began the day with an 8-under 65, posting nine birdies and a bogey. He was one-shot back from Tarren heading into the final round.
He played a steady back nine, recording a bogey-free front nine with one birdie. Heading to the 18th tied for second at 11-under, Gagne pulled his driver into the sand. After advancing it about 60 yards, still in the sand, he hit a hybrid to 10 feet and made the putt for birdie.
Gagne, who just finished up his senior season at Louisiana State University, will turn professional prior to the U.S. Open and has clear goal heading into the championship.
"Make the cut and take home a check this time," Gagne said.
Pereira finished the morning round with a 5-under 68, with five birdies. He started the second round with an eagle on the first hole, before going on to card three birdies on the front nine. The Chile native birdie the 12th to move to 11-under, before finishing the day with a par on 18 to secure his spot. He played both rounds bogey-free.
Tyson Alexander, finished with a 10-under 136 to claim the first alternate spot, while Jack Maguire posted a 9-under 137 for the second alternate spot.
The 119th U.S. Open Championship will be played June 13-16 at Pebble Beach Golf Link in Pebble Beach, Calif.
