South African fans will have four more players to keep an eye on after Brandon Stone, Oliver Bekker, George Coetzee all qualified for the US Open on Monday, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
The quartet were among the 15 players to book their place at the second Major of the year to be played at Erin Hills in June.
Walton Heath Golf Club played host to the sectional qualifier where 111 hopefuls from around the world teed up in the 36-hole stroke play event.
Englishman Aaron Rai finished top of the pile after an incredible run of five birdies and an eagle in his final nine holes of the qualifier. Rai finished on -14 with China’s Li Haotong matched Rai’s 64 to finish -13.
Also booking their place where Frenchman Alexander Levy, Richie Ramsay, Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston (who made a hole-in-one during round one), Joёl Stalter, Eddie Pepperell, Bradley Dredge as well as South African trio Stone, Coetzee and Bekker.
Thomas Aiken was left to fight in a nervy playoff where nine players battled for four spots. Aiken sealed his spot at Erin Hills on the second hole with Ireland’s Paul Dunne. Matt Wallace and Wade Ormsby were the last men to qualify.
Zander Lombard, who came agonisingly close to his European Tour breakthrough at the Rocco Forte Open two weeks ago, finished on -6 and three shots out of the playoff spots while Dylan Frittelli and Justin Walters were two further back of Lombard’s mark.
Dean Burmester and Haydn Porteous withdrew after opening rounds of 73 and 75 respectively.
Notables who missed out on qualifying were three-time major champion Padraig Harrington and 2009 PGA champion Y.E. Yang.
