RELATED NEWS: Bland wins way into third Open
Adelaide’s Wade Ormsby has finally ended a long overdue 16-year wait to contest a first major after successfully qualifying for next fortnight’s US Open.
Ormsby, 37 managed to earn a place in the Erin Hills right on the cut-off mark with scores of 66 and 69 in Monday’s 36-hole qualifier at Walton Heath, just to the south of London.
It was Ormsby’s fourth attempt at U.S. Open qualifying at Walton Heath but the first since 2009.
England’s Aaron Rai grabbed top qualifying honours with rounds of 66 and 64 for a 14-under tally.
Ormsby was among seven players to end their rounds on nine-under and with the leading 17 overall winning through to the U.S. Open in suburban Milwaukee on June 15.
Ormsby had produced a flawless bogey-free six-birdie haul in the morning over the New Course at Walton Heath and then after a short lunch break he went out to tackle the famed Old Course.
However, it was not the start “Orms” was seeking in dropping two shots over his first six holes but then managing to sandwich a third hole eagle between bogeys at two, five and six to make the turn at one-over par and back to five-under in tally.
Ormsby then knuckled down to then birdie four holes in a five-hole run from the 11th to 16th holes ahead of two closing pars to secure his place. He joins fellow-Australians including Jason Day, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith in the year ’s second Major.
A handful of Australians competed in the qualifying rounds, with Richard Green and New South Wales amateur Harrison Endycott just a shot away from the playoff at 136, while another NSW amateur, Travis Smyth, carded 141.
Perth amateur Minwoo Lee shot himself out of contention with a first-round 74 but carded a nice 68 in the second round to record 142.