BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. – Back in April, thousands of golfers around the country began a journey in U.S. Open Local Qualifying that they hoped would lead to a spot in the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at Los Angeles Country Club.
That journey continues next week with U.S. Open Final Qualifying.
Ten final qualifiers will be held around the country on Monday, with Florida’s 36-hole qualifier heading to Pine Tree Golf Club, as 51players are vying for a spot in this year’s U.S. Open.
Opened in 1961, Pine Tree Golf Club is a Dick Wilson design. Pine Tree, dubbed the greatest flat course in the United States by Ben Hogan, remains prestigious, traditional and intensely private more than 60 years later.
The course is known their fast putting surfaces, perfectly conditioned teeing grounds, some measuring over 100 yards in length, and a challenging championship course. The 2019 U.S. Open champion, Gary Woodland, is a member at Pine Tree, and his U.S. Open title is one of 50 Major championships won by Pine Tree members..
Matthew Wolff, the runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Open Championship, will look to secure a spot in this year's championship.
A handful of FSGA champions will be in the field at Pine Tree. The 2017 Florida Amateur champion, Cristian DiMarco, the 2022 Florida Amateur Match Play champion, John Houchin, the 2020 Florida Four-Ball champion, Brendan Valdes, and three-time FSGA champion, Scott Turner, will all look to advance to Los Angeles Country Club.
Luis Gagne, a Florida Junior Tour alum, will look to advance to his fourth U.S. Open through final qualifier, after punching his ticket to the championship in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
In total, 14 amateurs will be in the field at Pine Tree. Among those amateurs is Cameron Kuchar, son to nine-time PGA Tour winner, Matt Kuchar. Fifteen-year old Kuchar posted a 3-under 69 to advance out of U.S. Open local qualifying.
Florida Junior Tour alum, Garrett Barber will look to advance to his first U.S. Open Championship, after finishing up his final season at Louisiana State University.
Greg Koch, the PGA Assistant Professional and the Head of Instruction at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club - Orlando, will look to tee it up in another major, after playing at the 2023 PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Jeremy Wells, the Director of Player Development at Cypress Lake Golf Club, Matt Cahill, the Director of Golf at Seminole Golf Club, and John Somers, the Head Professional at Southern Hills, will both look to make another Major appearance this year after making their PGA Championship debut in May.
