Golf Notebook: U.S. Open Qualifiers Kick Off Busy Upcoming Schedule

A total of 10,202 entries were submitted to the USGA among both amateurs and professionals to qualify to this summer’s 125^th U.S. Open Championship to be held at historic Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh.

Among those was McCallie School senior Billy Boroughs, hoping to earn his way to test his game against golf’s elite. Boroughs took a huge first step on that journey on Tuesday at Spring Hill’s Towhee Club.

Boroughs birdied the first hole of a four-way playoff battling for the final two spots in a U.S. Open qualifying event, securing his promotion to the final stage of qualifying that will take place at 13 different locations across the U.S. between May 19-June 2.

Dawson Armstrong of Spring Hill shot 4-under 66 to earn medalist honors, finishing two shots clear of Nashville’s Nick Sutton. Boroughs seemed poised to join Sutton at 2-under and avoid the playoff, but suffered an untimely bogey on his final hole to join Jacob Sherlin of Hendersonville, Trevor Johnson of Brentwood and fellow amateur John Burch of Nashville with closing scores of 1-under 69.

Boroughs’ clutch birdie sealed his advancement, while Sherlin locked up the final qualifier slot.

East Hamilton High School seniors Griffin Law and Tucker Wick posted scores of 2-over 72 on the day.

In another local qualifier held at Knoxville’s Three Ridges Golf Course, a pair of South Carolina golfers tied for medalist honors at 4-under 68 to nail down two of the four passes to final qualifying. Former University of South Carolina golfer Keenan Huskey of Greenville and William Nottingham of Simpsonville, who played collegiately at Clemson, carded the day’s low rounds.

Five other golfers finished at 3-under 69 vying for the final two spots including Chris Zhang of Blacksburg, Va., amateur Dylan Desjarlais of Leesburg, Va., amateur Tanner Varney of Knoxville, amateur Raymond Rebell of Maryville and Christopher Hickman of St. Simons Island, Ga.

Despite being only 14-years old, Rebell capped off his amazing month by joining Zhang as the last two qualifiers by making a birdie on the second playoff hole. The Maryville High School student competed in the Drive, Chip and Putt finals at Augusta National Golf Club two weeks ago in advance of the Masters Tournament.

Also earning a spot in the next stage of qualifying was Nashville’s 17-year-old Blades Brown, who finished second in Monday’s qualifier in Tarpon Springs, Fla. after a round of 70. After announcing his decision to turn professional in December, Brown has made the cut in one of four PGA Tour events while posting T41 and T51 finishes in his two Korn Ferry appearances.

U.S. Senior Open Qualifier

In last week’s U.S. Senior Open local qualifier at Franklin Bridge Golf Club, 12 spots plus two alternates were awarded to move on to final qualifying in hopes of advancing to the 45^th U.S. Senior Open Championship to be played June 26-29 at The Broadmoor – East Course in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Mike Vance of Jackson posted a round of 6-under 64 to earn medalist honors, while Henrik Simonsen of The Honors Course placed second at 3-under 67. A pair of Nashville golfers – Bill Breen and Travis Womble – both shot 2-under 68 to earn a tie for third.

Others earning the right to advance were Shane Childress (Decatur), Michel Alary (Pleasant View) and Ryan McCann (Franklin) at 1-under 69, followed by five golfers at even par 70 that included Benjamin Whitlock (Murfreesboro), amateur Jay Potter (Tullahoma), Gary Sowinski (San Diego), Glenn Hudson (LaFollette) and Gary Slayden (College Grove).

Final qualifying will take place at 12 different sites throughout the country starting May 19^th and running through June 12^th.

The USGA accepted 2,585 entries for the event that is open to professional and amateur golfers with a Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4 who are at least 50 years of age by the start of championship play.

Among the 88 exempt golfers includes ten former champions as well as Louis Brown, who won the 2024 U.S. Senior Amateur at The Honors Course, along with runner-up Dan Sullivan.

Upcoming CDGA Event

The Chattanooga District Golf Association will feature its second event of the season with the Cleveland Country Club Invitational taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

Last year’s overall winner was Dylan Lillard, while Richard Keene won the senior division and Richard Brame claimed the super senior title.

Jack McKenna Junior Golf Day This Saturday

The popular Jack McKenna Junior Golf Day, a free clinic for youths ages 6 to 17, will take place this Saturday at the UTC Player Development Center on Hickory Valley Road.

Featuring the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s and women’s golf teams as instructors and demonstrating their skills, the event that began in 2012 will run from 9 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. Registration has ended due to the elevated demand.

McKenna devoted more than five decades to instructing junior golfers prior to his death in 2011, both at Valleybrook Golf and Country Club and as owner of The Academy of Golf of Chattanooga he operated in Hixson.

Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com