Road to Oakmont

May 09, 2016

Sectional Qualifying

The Longest Day in Golf occurred Monday, with 10 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifiers being held around the country. The California Sectional Qualifier rotates every other year between Northern California and Southern California, with the 2016 event being held at Lake Merced GC in Daly City. SCGA members competed around the country. The following advanced out of Sectionals and earned a coveted spot in the 2016 U.S. Open, which will be held June 13-19 at Oakmont CC in Pennsylvania.

Brendan Steele

PGA TOUR member Brendan Steele shot rounds of 66 and 68 at Wedgewood Golf & Country Club/Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club to finish fourth at the Powell, Ohio-based Sectional. Steele, originally from Idylwild, CA, has been playing well on TOUR as of late, with three Top-20 finishes in his last four events. This will be his second U.S. Open appearance, having qualified in 2013 but failing to make the cut.

Aaron Wise

Aaron Wise continued his memorable week, medaling at the Sectional Qualifier in Vancouver, Wash. just days after winning the individual NCAA Championship as well as the Team Championship with his fellow University of Oregon Ducks. Wise shot rounds of 67 and 68 at Royal Oaks CC to top the 55-player field by two strokes. This will be Wise's first U.S. Open appearance. Wise rose to fame last summer after winning the Pacific Coast Amateur and earning a runner-up finish at the SCGA Amateur Championship.

Mark Anguiano

A frequent SCGA Tournament competitor who turned professional in 2015, Mark Anguiano earned his first U.S. Open apperance, qualifying out of the Lake Merced GC/The Olympic Club Sectional in Northern California. Anguiano, who currently plays on the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, finished T2 at the qualifier after firing rounds of 66-68.

Local Qualifying

The SCGA hosted nine U.S. Open Local qualifiers in May, as some of the finest golfers began their journey to the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont CC in Pennsylvania. Five men advanced out of each local qualifier and moved on to Sectional Qualifying in June. Results from each of the local qualifiers held in Southern California are below.

Indian Ridge Country Club - May 9

Rico Hoey (a) (co-medalist)

Justin Suh (a) (co-medalist)

Jeremy Sanders

Alex Kim

Byron Smith

Crystalaire - May 9

Tyler Collier (a) (medalist)

Cody Hall (a)

Howard Bernstein

Jonathan Sanders

Bruce Doucett (a)

Andalusia CC - May 10

Geoff Gonzalez (medalist)

Max Homa

Nahum Mendoza (a)

Kyle Mendoza

John Chin

Bermuda Dunes CC - May 12

David Bradshaw (medalist)

Allen Geiberger

Steven Gouirand

Pete Vilairatana

Mitchell Fedorka

La Purisima GC - May 12

Sahith Theegala (a) (medalist)

Clayton Chatterley (a)

Matt Hansen

Kyle Pollema

Matthew Pinizzotto

Classic Club - May 16

Kaiwen Liu (medalist)

Calib Ramirez (a)

Kurt Kitayama

Brandon Petalski

David Gazzolo

Barona Creek GC - May 16

Joshua Rider (medalist)

Aaron Dexheimer

Brian Smock

Matt Picanso

Patrick Strandemo

Ironwood CC - May 17

Kenny Pigman (co-medalist)

Michael Reese (co-medalist)

Issei Tanabe (a) (co-medalist)

Ben Albin (a) (co-medalist)

Michael Block (co-medalist)

Industry Hills GC - May 18

Pete Fernandez Jr. (a) (medalist)

Tain Lee

Mark Anguiano

Vinnie Poncino

Tanner Podres



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thevaporz

Handicap Index: 13.5
Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Go Brian Smock (Coronado) and Steele!