Michael Block just misses chance to qualify for U.S. Open
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[June 06, 2023]
The feel-good story of the PGA Championship won't get an
encore at the U.S. Open.
Michael Block, the 46-year-old club professional who tied for 15th
last month at Oak Hill Country Club, narrowly missed out on making
the field for this month's major championship at Los Angeles Country
Club.
Competing in a 36-hole qualifier in Toronto on Monday, Block
finished sixth of 27 players but needed to make the top three to
earn his spot in the U.S. Open.
Block shot rounds of 69 and 66 to go 5 under at Lambton Golf &
Country Club, according to the USGA's website. That was two spots
out of the third and final guaranteed place, and one shot behind
Harry Hall of England and Jimmy Walker, two PGA Tour players who
were named alternates.
Ryan Gerard was the site's medalist at 11 under (63-66). Vincent
Norrman of Sweden (69-63) and Ryan Armour (66-67) grabbed the second
and third spots.
Block still finished better than PGA Tour players Harry Higgs, Richy
Werenski and Englishman Callum Tarren.
Block, the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo,
Calif., moved his entry from the Los Angeles-area qualifier to
Toronto because he received a sponsor's exemption to compete in the
RBC Canadian Open later this week.
Block's 18-year-old son, amateur Dylan Block, also reached the final
round of U.S. Open qualifying but will not make it. The younger
block opened with a 10-over 81 at Hillcrest Country Club in Los
Angeles and was even for his round with four holes to go as of
Monday evening.
The largest qualifier took place in Columbus, Ohio, given that the
PGA Tour was in the area for the Memorial Tournament last weekend.
Olin Browne Jr., the 34-year-old son of former PGA Tour winner Olin
Browne, beat out 102 other golfers for medalist honors at 11 under
(66-67).
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Stewart Cink, who turned 50 last month, earned his
way into the major with a 68-67 showing. He was part of a large tie
for third at 9 under. Other PGA Tour players advancing from Columbus
included Davis Thompson, Eric Cole, Luke List and Patrick Rodgers.
Kevin Streelman and two amateurs, Nick Dunlap of Alabama and David
Nyfjall of Sweden, qualified out of a four-for-three playoff, with
2009 U.S. Open champ Lucas Glover being the odd man out.
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Canada's Taylor Pendrith made the field by finishing second at his
qualifier in Springfield, Ohio.
Cameron Kuchar, the 15-year-old son of PGA Tour veteran Matt Kuchar,
did not qualify after shooting 76-76 at his qualifier in Boynton
Beach, Fla.
Jesse Schutte of Oregon and Hong Kong amateur Alexander Yang grabbed
the two qualifying spots in Lakewood, Wash.
The "longest day" will carry into a second day, as the final
qualifying berths at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles still
must be determined. Three players -- PGA Tour regular Charley
Hoffman, Josh Anderson and amateur Preston Summerhays -- will
compete for two U.S. Open berths. Three other players already booked
their spots from Hillcrest, including LIV Golf's David Puig of
Spain.
--Field Level Media
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