SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. - By Craig Distl - Canadian Brad Fritsch earned medallist honors and led a group of six golfers from a field of 93 who advanced through U.S. Open local qualifying Monday at National Golf Club.
Fritsch, a current Canadian Tour pro who played collegiately at Campbell, started on the 10th hole and reeled off four birdies in his first six holes to make the turn at four under. He finished with a three-under 69, the only player in the field to break 70 on a day when firm greens and tight pin placements kept the average score well above par.
Fritsch chose to qualify at National because he made it through the first stage of PGA Tour qualifying at the Jack Nicklaus course in both 2001 and 2002.
"I like the golf course, so when I saw qualifying was here, I signed up," Fritsch said. "It's a course where you have to control the distance with your irons well, and that was especially true today with the pin placements like they were."
Also advancing Monday were three golfers who shot two-under 70s: former Clemson All-American Charles Warren of Greer, S.C., Jeremy Pope of Pawleys Island, S.C., and Jonathan Moore of Bradenton, Fla.
A three-way playoff decided the final two spots, with Pinehurst's Scott Medlin and Rich Massey of Harrington Park, N.J., advancing over amateur Andy Bare of West End, N.C. Bare was named first alternate and Pinehurst's David Sanchez was named second alternate.
The six qualifiers now move on to 36-hole sectional qualifying, to be held June 7-8 at 13 sites nationwide. Those who advance from sectional qualifying will earn spots in the 104th U.S. Open, June 17-20 at the famed Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.