Following the U.S. Open Local Qualifier last week at Foxborough Country Club, five more Massachusetts natives have advanced to the Final Qualifying round through local qualifying events through the Northeast.
Nick Maccario, the 2020 Mass Golf Player of the Year, and Boston College junior Nick Cummings, are both Mass Golf amateurs and will compete in one of the 36-hole competitions next month to determine who goes to the Championship Proper at The Country Club in Brookline.
Hopkinton native Jimmy Hervol, who last year played his way into the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, also clinched a spot in Final Qualifying as did Matt Barran, the head golf professional at The Ridge Club, and Lucas Spahl, a Dudley native and an assistant golf professional at The Patterson Club (CT) & McArthur Golf Club (FL).
On Wednesday, Louisville graduate student Chris Francoeur (Amesbury Golf & Country Club) shot a 4-under 68 and won a 5-for-3 playoff by making a birdie on the par-5 18th at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Kentucky.
Following last year’s semifinal appearance in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, Maccario continued his high-level play as he shot an even-par 70 on Monday at Southampton Country Club on Long Island. Maccario shot 34 on the front nine with two birdies, and added another birdie to shot 36 on the back.
Living in Waltham, Maccario said it’d be the opportunity of a lifetime to play in a U.S. Open in his home state.
“I live about 10 minutes from The Country Club, so it would be awesome,” Maccario said. “It would be an amazing opportunity just to reach the final stage of qualifying.”
Despite shooting 37 on the front nine, Spahl rallied on the back nine with four birdies, all on the odd-numbered holes.
“I made the turn at 3-over and my caddy and I looked at each other and we said ‘well, its time we get it going and see what we can do on the back nine,'” Spahl said.
Though nobody made it to even-par Monday at The Golf Club at Oxford Greens in Connecticut, Nick Cummings, of Weston, claimed one of the six spots up for grabs. Cummings carded his 2-over 74, making one of his three birdies on the par-5 17th to secure his spot.
Hervol and Barran advanced to final qualifying with strong play Tuesday at Kirkbrae Country Club in Rhode Island. Hervol carded a 34 on the back nine with three birdies, including holes 13, 14 and 16 to finish 1-under 71.
Barran, meanwhile, was 2-under through three holes, and despite a string of bogeys, he made another birdie on the 16th to move to even-par and avoid a playoff.
Also in Rhode Island, Westwood’s Patrick Frodigh (Dedham Country & Polo Club) earned first alternate spot by defeating Stoneham’s Samuel Grindle in a playoff. Grindle is the second alternate.
Southampton Country Club (Southampton, NY; Par-70)
a-Nick Maccario (Waltham, MA); 70
Lucas Spahl (Dudley, MA); 70
The Golf Club at Oxford Greens (Oxford, CT); Par-72
Nick Cummings (Weston, MA); 74
Kirkbrae Country Club (Lincoln, RI)
QUALIFIERS (Names; Cities)
Jimmy Hervol (Hopkinton, MA/Lake Worth, FL); 71
Matt Baran (Osterville, MA); 72
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Patrick Frodigh (Westwood, MA); 73
Samuel Grindle (Stoneham, MA); 73
Kearney Hill Golf Links (Lexington, Kentucky)
QUALIFIERS (Names; Cities)
Chris Francoeur (Amesbury, MA); 68
*denotes amateur player
Five more qualifying spots and two alternate spots will be up for grabs Tuesday, May 17 at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown.
Taconic Golf Club U.S. Open Local Qualifier | May 17, 2022 | 5 Qualifying Spots, 2 Alternate Spots
STARTING TIMES | PLAYER INFORMATION
FINAL QUALIFYING SCHEDULE
MAY 23
Caledonian Golf Club (Japan)
Lakewood Country Club and Royal Oaks Country Club (Dallas, Texas)
JUNE 6
RattleSnake Point Golf Club (CopperHead Course) (Milton, Ontario)
The Olympic Club (Ocean Course) (San Francisco, Calif.)
The Club at Admiral’s Cove (North and West Courses) (Jupiter, Fla.)
Ansley Golf Club (Settindown Creek Course) (Roswell, Ga.)
Woodmont Country Club (North Course) (Rockville, Md.)
Century Country Club and Old Oaks Country Club (Purchase, N.Y.)
Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club & Wedgewood Golf and Country Club (Columbus, Ohio)
Springfield Country Club (Springfield, Ohio)
Pronghorn Resort (Nicklaus Course) (Bend, Ore.)
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