Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2016 - 38

SCORECARD
U.S. Open Local Qualifying
+
N
ewly minted golf
professional Alex
Kline, of Ramsey,
Minn., fired a 3-under-par
69 amid tough conditions
May 9 at the Minneapolis
Golf Club to advance with
four others to the next stage
of qualifying for the 2016
U.S. Open.
" I got off to a good start,
birdied one and three-the
par 5s. I didn't really hit it
that great but I hung in
there. My short game was
working overtime, but on
a day with these conditions,
you kind of need that, " said
Kline, who just finished his
amateur collegiate career
at Grand Canyon University.
" I got a couple lucky
bounces, kept everything
in front of me and made
a couple putts. The greens
were quick and tough, and
the rough is long and thick. "
Former University of
Minnesota golfer Cameron
White's round of 1-underpar
71 was enough to earn a
spot in the sectional qualifier
from the field of 78.
Brian Hills, a professional
from Buffalo, Minn., began
a dream start on the back
nine with two early birdies
at 10 and 12 and tap-in
birdies at 13 and 14 before
draining a 40-foot birdie
at the 16th to turn at 5-under
par. Michigan professional
Jay Jurecic claimed
the fourth qualifying spot
after turning at 1-over with
a lone bogey coming at the
13th.
Current Gopher teammates
William Leaf and
Jose Mendez both finished
the round at 2-over-par 74,
needing a playoff to determine
the final qualifying
position, with Leaf prevailing
as Mendez finished
as the first alternate. Drew
Engelking, of Edina, Minn.,
carded a 3-over-par 75 and
finished as second alternate.
Minneapolis
GC
St. Louis Park
7,045 Yards, Par 72
FINAL RESULTS
1. Alexander Kline-Medalist
35-34-69
2. Cameron White-Qualifier
35-36-71
3. Brian Hills-Qualifier
41-31-72
4. Jay Jurecic-Qualifier
36-37-73
T5. William Leaf (a)-Qualifier
36-38-74
T5. Jose Mendez (a)-1st Alt.
38-36-74
T7. Drew Engelking (a)-2nd Alt.
37-38-75
U.S. Open Local Qualifying
+
Minnesota Valley CC
Bloomington
6,810 Yards, Par 73
FINAL RESULTS
1. Justin Smith-Medalist
35-35-70
2. Jonathan Reigstad-Qualifier
35-36-71
T3. Aaron McClay-Qualifier
37-35-72
T3. Sam Matthew-Qualifier
36-36-72
T5. John Hafdal-1st Alt.
37-36-73
T5. Brent Snyder-2nd Alt.
34-39-73
J
ustin Smith, a former Gopher AllAmerican
and Nationwide tour vet,
posted a 3-under-par 70 and claimed
medalist honors May 9 at Minnesota Valley
Country Club to advance with three others
to sectional qualifiers for the 2016 U.S. Open.
Jonathan Reigstad, an assistant pro at
Keller, had a chance to tie Smith-or possibly
claim the first-place medal for himself-
with one hole to go in his round. He birdied
the short, 299-yard, par-4 eighth hole, his
17th of the day, to get to 3-under, but then
bogeyed the hardest hole on the course: the
442-yard, par-4 ninth, finishing with a 71.
The other two qualifiers, Aaron McClay
and Sam Matthew, both shot 72s; the latter,
who won the State Amateur in 2013, turned
pro after winning the 2015 MGA Players
(Match Play) Championship last June. He
is one of only eight players to claim both
36
MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2016
of those titles. Five players posted 73s and
played off for the two alternate spots: John
Hafdal knocked a 255-yard 3-wood (metal)
onto the green at the first playoff hole, No.
10, and two-putted to claim the first alternate
spot. Brent Snyder, the 2013 Minnesota
PGA Player of the Year, earned the second
alternate spot.
There will be 10 sectionals held in the
United States, all of them on June 6. The
Open itself will be played June 16-19 at Oakmont
Country Club in Oakmont, Pa.
www.mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2016

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