Four advance from U.S Open Local qualifying held at CRCC
From left – Matthew Walker, Isaac Rumler, Sean McCarty and Gage Messingham.
A total 76 players teed it up Monday at Cedar Rapids Country Club with the hope of advancing to U.S. Open Final Qualifying.
By the end of the day, those four had been identified and advanced.
Gage Messingham (amateur), of Arvada, Colorado, followed up his win at the IGA Four-Ball by claiming medalist honors. The Iowa Hawkeye fired 69 (-3) en route to medalist honors. Messingham’s day began on the 10th tee and he played the front nine at -4. On #1, Messingham was tested when he made a double bogey, but found a way to grind out the round.
Messingham credited his strong play to his driver and positioning off the tee. For final qualifying Messingham will rely on the confidence he has built early this summer and his excitement for the opportunity.
Matthew Walker (professional), of Ottumwa, took the second qualifying spot with 70 (-2). Sean McCarty (professional) of Solon and Isaac Rumler (amateur) of Moline, Illinois, took the third and fourth qualifying spots with a score of 71 (-1). Cedar Rapids Country Club was friendly to the Hawkeyes as Messingham is a current player at Iowa and McCarty and Walker are both alumni.
The four men will have a chance to qualify for the US Open at final qualifying. There are a variety of sites the players can choose from for the 36-hole qualifier, also known as “the longest day in golf.”
After a one-hole playoff Matthew Jennings (professional) of Prairie City earned the First Alternate spot and Mac McClear (professional) of St. Louis, Missouri, earned the Second Alternate position. Both men shot a score of even par 72 earlier in the day.