Seattle University sophomores Kyle Cornett (Mill Creek, Wash.) and Ahren Young (Renton, Wash.) earned two of the seven spots in Monday’s 18-hole local qualifier for the 2015 United States Open Championships to advance to the sectional qualifier, moving one step closer to playing in this year’s national golf championship at Chambers Bay.
Young finished in third place in the one-round qualifier at The Home Course after shooting two-under-par 70, three strokes behind medalist Cheng-Tsung Pan. Young compiled six birdies and four bogeys during his round, taking advantage of the par-five holes by making three birdies. He entered the seventh hole at even par and, after four birdies over the span of six holes, left the 12th hole at four under par.
After shooting even-par 72 with three birdies and three bogeys, Cornett ended up in a seven-way tie for sixth place and played a sudden-death playoff looking for one of the final two spots. He salvaged a par on the first playoff hole and birdied the second one, but another player matched that birdie to keep the playoff going. Cornett kept his ball dry on the par-three 14th hole, made par, and clinched his spot in the sectional qualifier.
Cornett and Young will probably play in the 36-hole sectional qualifier held at Tumble Creek Club in Cle Elum, Wash., on Monday, June 8, with at least two spots available for the U.S. Open June 18-21 at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., the home of the Redhawk Invitational collegiate golf tournament in each of the past two years.
The Seattle University men’s golf team completed the 2014-15 season with six top-three finishes, including a second place finish at the Redhawk Invitational at Chambers Bay and a third place finish at the Western Athletic Conference Men’s Golf Championships last month.