Bergeron , Berthelot and Christovich win honors at US Open Qualifier
[ St . Francisville , Louisiana ] – It was a tough grind to get under par on Tuesday at the Bluffs on Thompson Creek , site of the 2016 U . S . Open Local Qualifier . The Arnold Palmer designed course in St . Francisville , Louisiana provided a stern test for competitors and yielded only six scores under par to a field of the top professional and amateur golfers in the region .
Three Louisianans shared low medalist honors after firing two-under par 70s . Jacob Bergeron of Slidell , Greg Berthelot of Baton Rouge , and Patrick Christovich of New Orleans all advanced to a Sectional Qualifier and down the “ Road to Oakmont ” after carding the low round of the day .
All four competitors showcased mental fortitude by battling the wet conditions and light rain throughout the morning . Berthelot ( 2011 ) and Christovich ( 2012 ) are former LGA Amateur Champions , and Bergeron is an outstanding junior golfer committed to play collegiately at LSU . If they make it through the next stage of Sectional Qualifying , they will compete in the 116th U . S . Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont , Pennsylvania on June 16-19 .
Three competitors shot one-under par 71 and went to a drama filled sudden death playoff for the final qualifying spot and two alternates . Casey Clendenon representing New Orleans , Louisiana by way of Houston Texas , Blake Kelley of Mandeville , Louisiana , and Joel Myrick of Hattiesburg , Mississippi dueled it out for the final spot . Myrick was eliminated on the first playoff hole after making a bogey 5 at the par 4 first hole . Clendenon and Kelley traded pars on holes # 4 and # 5 and moved to the majestic par 5 9th hole which was playing 531 yards on Tuesday . The hole boasts a split fairway and is a riskreward .
Kelley hit a beautiful shot from the greenside bunker to 4 feet and made birdie but Clendenon dropped a 30-foot eagle putt to punch his ticket to Sectional Qualifying .
The U . S . Open Qualifier at The Bluffs on Thompson Creek was one of 12 Qualifiers held in the United States on Tuesday . There were a total of 65 competitors at this Local Qualifier conducted by the Louisiana Golf Association .
The Bluffs on Thompson Creek was set up to a par 72 at 7,003 yards , but it played slightly longer due to the soft fairways and some uphill terrain . The greens rolled true and remained consistent throughout the day
Ṫhis year , sectional sites included 10 locations in the U . S ., one in England and one in Japan . The international qualifiers took place on May 23 ( Japan ) and May 30 ( England ), while the U . S . Sectional Qualifiers will be conducted on June 6 , also known as “ Golf ’ s Longest Day .”
Played over 36 holes in one day , sectional qualifying is a test of skill and endurance with only a handful of available spots at each site . The number of qualifying spots is determined by the quality and quantity of the field at each location .
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