Nine Golfers Advance to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying
RESULTS • PHOTOS
Eugene, Ore. – Sulman Raza (Eugene, Ore.) fired a 3-under par 68 to medal in U.S. Open local qualifying held at Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore. on Monday, May 18th, while eight others joined him in advancing to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying.
The Oregon Golf Association, the USGA state representative, conducted the qualifying tournament. The top nine players from the local qualifier at Eugene Country Club advanced to 36-holes of USGA Sectional Qualifying at the Tumble Creek Club in Cle Elum, Wash., to be held at a later date.
Along with Raza, eight more players qualified for sectional qualifying. Amateurs Cody Curteman (Bandon, Ore.) and Jesse Heinly (Bend, Ore.), and professionals Casey Martin (Eugene, Ore.), Nick Sherwood (Albany, Ore.) and John Wise (Portland, Ore.) all qualified by finishing at 1-under par (70) for the day.
The final three spots were decided by a four-person playoff, all of whom shot even par in their round. Amateur Harrison Moir (Portland, Ore.) and professional Andrew Buege (Abrams, Wis.) advanced after the first hole, and pro Craig Crandall (San Clemente, Calif.) defeated Scott Kim (Corvallis, Ore.) to claim the final spot in sectional qualifying. Kim, an amateur, became the first alternate, while Kenny Ebalo (Las Vegas, Nev.), also an amateur, emerged from a playoff of 1-over par finishers to snag the second alternate spot.
The course was set up difficult, and the morning scores proved it. After the first wave of players, only two golfers were under par – Curteman and Heinly. Raza, who teed off in the afternoon and said he looked at the morning scores, knew what he needed to do to qualify.
“My goal today was to play the par-3s even par or better, which I did, and then to accept a par wherever it was,” said Raza. “Because out here, making a par with these conditions was, I believe, very crucial.
“It definitely played a role, for sure. I got an idea of what I needed to do coming in for the afternoon rounds.”
Raza, who plays collegiate golf for the University of Oregon, wasn’t the only Duck to qualify on Monday. His head coach, Martin, will also be joining him in sectional qualifying. Martin made a 25-foot putt on the 18th hole to clinch his spot in the next qualifier. Moir is a current student at the University of Oregon.
