USGA Announces 2013 U.S. Open Local Qualifying Sites


The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced local qualifying sites for the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, which will be contested at Merion Golf Club, in Ardmore, Pa., on June 13-16. Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 111 sites, will take place May 3-16 in 43 states.

"The U.S. Open's local and sectional qualifying process exemplifies a tremendous commitment by the state and regional associations and we are grateful for their support," said USGA Vice President and Championship Committee Chairman Thomas J. O'Toole Jr. "U.S. Open qualifying remains unique and democratic in that every amateur golfer who meets the Handicap Index requirement can compete. Local qualifying is where the quest to play in our National Championship begins."

Those players successful in local qualifiers will advance to sectional qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes at 11 U.S. sites on June 3. For the ninth consecutive year, Japan and England will host international qualifying, both scheduled for May 27.

In 2013, six clubs are hosting U.S. Open local qualifying for at least the 10th consecutive year. Illini Country Club, in Springfield, Ill., has held a U.S. Open local qualifier since the late 1940s, while Maketewah Country Club, in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been a site for more than four decades. Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club and Genoa Lakes Golf Club, in Genoa, Nev., have hosted local qualifying since the 1990s. Old Works Golf Club, in Anaconda, Mont., and Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins, Colo., have also hosted for at least a decade.

There are 16 local qualifying sites in Florida, with the first of the scheduled qualifiers at The Club at Admirals Cove's East Course in Jupiter on May 3. Fourteen local qualifiers are scheduled in California, three in the Palm Desert area.

For a complete list of the sites, visit http://www.usga.org/news/2013/February/U-S--Open-Local-Qualifying-Sites-Announced/.

Last year, eight players who advanced through local and sectional qualifying - including Scott Langley and amateur Beau Hossler - made the cut at the U.S. Open, the most since 1997. Langley, who qualified locally at The Legacy Golf and Tennis Club, in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Hossler, who advanced through a local qualifier at Oakmont Country Club, in Glendale, Calif., tied for 29th at The Olympic Club in 2012. Both clubs are hosting local qualifiers again this year.

The U.S. Open will be held for the fifth time at Merion Golf Club, in Ardmore, Pa. Olin Dutra (1934), Ben Hogan (1950), Lee Trevino (1971) and David Graham (1981) are past champions at Merion. To be eligible, a player must have a USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional. Online player registration for the 2013 U.S. Open begins the first week of March. For registration information, visit https://champs.usga.org/index.html.

The above report is courtesy of the USGA. For more information, visit www.usga.org.