Seven players earned their places in the US Open following Final Qualifying at Walton Heath – including Matthew Jordan, who will have Northern Golfer columnist Chris Simmons on his bag. Meanwhile, Darlington-based Andrew Wilson will have to wait and see if he will tee it up in this season’s third major after securing an alternate spot.
Nathan Kimsey tied the course record on the New Course at Walton Heath on his way to topping the 36-hole leaderboard.
The Englishman, who opened with a four under-par round of 68 on the Old Course, fired six birdies and two eagles during his bogey-free second round to reach 14 under-par. The 33-year-old will make his US Open debut at Shinnecock Hills on June 18-21.
Rocco Repetto Taylor, playing Final Qualifying at Walton Heath for the first time, backed up his opening 66 with another six under-par round to finish second on 12 under-par. The Spaniard, who earned promotion from the HotelPlanner Tour last year, will make his first major championship appearance on Long Island.
Matthew, who finished as the first alternate at last year’s US Open Final Qualifying and received a late call-up at Oakmont, signed for an eight under-par closing round on the Old Course to finish at 11 under-par and earn his spot at Shinnecock. He was joined on the same number by Dane Niklas Nørgaard, who will make his second US Open appearance.
Matthew and Niklas were joined on 11 under-par by Filippo Celli of Italy and Spaniard Ángel Hidalgo, who will both make their US Open debuts next month.
Extra holes were required to decide the one remaining place and two alternate spots. Four competitors finished on 10 under-par, with Frenchman Ugo Coussaud earning the final spot after two extra holes, while Hennie de Plessis and Andrew claimed the alternate spots.
