Local Qualifying for this year's U.S. Open has wrapped up, and a number of notable Southland golfers have gotten one step closer to appearing at The Olympic Club this June.
Jake Knapp (pictured), a high school senior from Costa Mesa, Calif., shot a 10-under par 61 in his U.S. Open Local Qualifier at Newport Beach CC on May 16, posting the best score at any 2012 U.S. Open qualifier across the country. He bested all other players by six strokes or more to earn medalist honors and advance to Sectional Qualifying June 4.
"I struck the ball great and hit all 18 greens. Just played really well," he said after his round. "I qualified [for sectionals] last year, but this time I feel more ready as long as I stay in control."
Knapp carded eight birdies and one eagle, while commiting no bogeys, in his impressive round. He also received an invitation to play in the Pacific Coast Amateur shortly after entering the clubhouse. Knapp missed the course record, held by Champions Tour players Nick Price (2011) and Tom Purtzer (2004), by one stroke. Price and Purtzer won the Toshiba Classic those years on the course.
The Estancia High School senior, who will be headed to UCLA to join Patrick Cantlay and the Bruins this fall, shot a six-under par 66 earlier this week to earn medalist honors at the CIF-SS Southern Individual Regional at Skylinks GC. He will advance to the CIF Individual finals, set to be held May 21 at Victoria CC in Riverside. This summer, Knapp will also play in two SCGA events, as he was recently granted an exemption into the SCGA Amateur at Big Canyon in July. He also qualified for the California Amateur a couple weeks ago.
17-year-old SCGA member Beau Hossler also advanced through local qualifying, shooting a 69 at Oakmont CC, the same place where a year ago the rising star made it through Sectional qualifying and advanced to the 2011 U.S. Open. Also making it through the qualifying at Oakmont was 2007 California Amateur Champion Josh Anderson.
Results from each Southland qualifier are available by clicking the links below. The listed named advanced to Sectional Qualifying June 4.
