USGA Announces Local Qualifying Sites for 2014 U.S. Open Championship
Far Hills, N.J. (PRWEB) February 26, 2014 -- Representing the start of an exciting and dramatic process in which thousands of golfers from around the world will pursue the title of America’s national champion, the United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced local qualifying sites for the 2014 U.S. Open Championship. The U.S. Open will be contested at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2, in Village of Pinehurst, N.C., on June 12-15. Local qualifying, conducted over 18 holes at 111 sites in 42 states, will take place between May 2-19.
“The U.S. Open’s local and sectional qualifying process is the most democratic in that every amateur golfer who meets the USGA Handicap Index® requirement can compete for a spot in the championship field,” said Daniel B. Burton, USGA vice president and Championship Committee chairman. “Two-tiered U.S. Open qualifying could not be conducted without the tremendous partnership and expertise provided by state and regional golf associations, and we are grateful for their continued support.”
Those players who advance out of local qualifying will compete in sectional qualifying, which will be conducted over 36 holes at 10 U.S. sites on June 2. For the 10th consecutive year, Japan and England will host international sectional qualifying, both scheduled for May 26.
Several local exemptions for the U.S. Open have been amended and will take effect in 2014. The top 500 point leaders and ties from the Official World Golf Ranking (as of March 3) will be exempt. Any player in the OWGR’s top 500 (as of April 21) who has filed an entry prior to the deadline of 5 p.m. EDT on April 23, will also earn a local exemption. Only the top 150 point leaders were exempted in previous years. In addition, any player who has had multiple finishes in the top 400 of the year-ending OWGR in the last five calendar years (2009-2013) will be exempt from local qualifying.
In 2014, five clubs are hosting U.S. Open local qualifying for at least the 10th consecutive year. Illini Country Club, in Springfield, Ill., has held a U.S. Open local qualifier since the late 1940s, while Maketewah Country Club, in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been a site for more than four decades. Riverton (Wyo.) Country Club and Genoa Lakes Golf Club, in Genoa, Nev., have hosted local qualifying since the 1990s. Collindale Golf Course, in Fort Collins, Colo., has also hosted for at least a decade. Thirty-nine courses return as U.S. Open local qualifying sites from last year.
Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., the site of the 1958, 1977 and 2001 U.S. Opens, is hosting one of this year’s U.S. Open local qualifiers.
There are 16 local qualifying sites in the state of Florida, with the first of the scheduled qualifiers at The Club at Admirals Cove’s East Course in Jupiter on May 2. Fourteen local qualifiers are scheduled in California.
Ken Venturi (1964) and Orville Moody (1969) are the only players to win the U.S. Open after qualifying through both local and sectional play. Last year, 20 players advanced through local and sectional qualifying to the 156-player U.S. Open championship field at Merion Golf Club.
The U.S. Open will be held for the third time at Pinehurst No. 2. In 1999, Payne Stewart made an 18-foot par-saving putt on the final hole to edge Phil Mickelson by one stroke and win his second U.S. Open title. In 2005, Michael Campbell shot a final-round 69 to finish at even-par 280, two strokes ahead of Tiger Woods. To be eligible, a player must have a USGA Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional.
Online player registration for the 2014 U.S. Open begins the first week of March (https://champs.usga.org/index.html).
2014 U.S. Open Championship Local Qualifying Sites (111)
Friday, May 2 (1)
The Club at Admirals Cove (East Course), Jupiter, Fla.
Monday, May 5 (24)
Timberline G.C., Calera, Ala.
Sewailo Golf Club, Tucson, Ariz.
Bermuda Dunes C.C., Bermuda Dunes, Calif.
El Macero C.C., El Macero, Calif.
Fort Washington G. & C.C., Fresno, Calif.
Barona Creek G.C., Lakeside, Calif.
The TPC at Valencia, Valencia, Calif.
Waterlefe G. & River C., Bradenton, Fla.
Seagate C.C., Delray Beach, Fla.
The G.C. at North Hampton, Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Orange Tree G.C., Orlando, Fla.
Blue Lakes C.C., Twin Falls, Idaho
George W. Dunne National, Oak Forest, Ill.
Stillwater C.C., Stillwater, Minn.
Hidden Creek G.C., Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
Red Hawk G.C., Las Cruces, N.M.
Twin Warriors G.C., Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M.
Mill River Club, Oyster Bay, N.Y.
Oak Hill C.C. (West Course), Rochester, N.Y.
Greensboro C.C. (Farm Course), Greensboro, N.C.
The Patriot G.C., Ninety Six, S.C.
Bakker Crossing G.C., Sioux Falls, S.D.
Alpine C.C., Highland, Utah
Royal Oaks C.C., Vancouver, Wash.
Tuesday, May 6 (5)
Hot Springs C.C. (Arlington Course), Hot Springs, Ark.
Industry Hills G.C. (Eisenhower Course), City of Industry, Calif.
Andalusia C.C., La Quinta, Calif.
Blue Top Ridge at Riverside, Riverside, Iowa
Twin Hills C.C., Longmeadow, Mass.
Wednesday, May 7 (11)
Timacuan G. & C.C., Lake Mary, Fla.
Fox Hollow G.C., Trinity, Fla.
Weston Hills C.C. (Tour Course), Weston, Fla.
Hawthorns G. & C.C., Fishers, Ind.
Sycamore Ridge G.C., Spring Hill, Kan.
Paramount C.C., New City, N.Y.
Scotch Valley C.C., Hollidaysburg, Pa.
Holston Hills C.C., Knoxville, Tenn.
Colonial C.C., Memphis, Tenn.
Odessa C.C., Odessa, Texas
Cedar Creek G.C., San Antonio, Texas
Thursday, May 8 (6)
Encanterra C.C., San Tan Valley, Ariz.
The Preserve G.C., Carmel, Calif.
Lake Wales C.C., Lake Wales, Fla.
Pinehills G.C., Plymouth, Mass.
Omaha C.C., Omaha, Neb.
Huntsville G.C., Shavertown, Pa.
Friday, May 9 (2)
River Landing (River Course), Wallace, N.C.
Mascoutin G.C., Berlin, Wis.
Saturday, May 10 (2)
Hoakalei C.C., Ewa Beach, Hawaii
The King Kamehameha G.C., Wailuku, Hawaii
Monday, May 12 (25)
C.C. at DC Ranch, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Indian Ridge C.C. (Grove Course), Palm Desert, Calif.
Ruby Hill C.C., Pleasanton, Calif.
Pasatiempo G.C., Santa Cruz, Calif.
The Broadmoor G.C. (West Course), Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Heritage at Westmoor, Westminster, Colo.
C.C. of Farmington, Farmington, Conn.
Lake Jovita G. & C.C. (South Course), Dade City, Fla.
Marsh Creek C.C., St. Augustine, Fla.
Indian River Club, Vero Beach, Fla.
Marietta C.C., Kennesaw, Ga.
Knollwood Club, Lake Forest, Ill.
Illini C.C., Springfield, Ill.
South Bend C.C., South Bend, Ind.
Muskegon C.C., Muskegon, Mich.
The Wilds G.C., Prior Lake, Minn.
Genoa Lakes G.C. (Lakes Course), Genoa, Nev.
TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nev.
Pinewild C.C. (Magnolia Course), Pinehurst, N.C.
Maketewah C.C., Cincinnati, Ohio
Kinsale G. & F.C., Powell, Ohio
Southern Hills C.C., Tulsa, Okla.
Long Cove Club, Hilton Head, S.C.
Falconhead G.C., Austin, Texas
Shadow Hawk G.C., Richmond, Texas
Tuesday, May 13 (16)
Ironwood C.C., Palm Desert, Calif.
Collindale G.C., Fort Collins, Colo.
Shark’s Tooth G.C., Lake Powell, Fla.
The Legacy G. & T.C., Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The Legends at Chateau Elan, Braselton, Ga.
Crofton C.C., Crofton, Md.
Radrick Farms, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Missouri Bluffs G.C., St. Louis, Mo.
Missoula C.C., Missoula, Mont.
Laurel Creek C.C., Mount Laurel, N.J.
Bedens Brook Club, Skillman, N.J.
Timber Banks G.C., Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Weymouth C.C., Medina, Ohio
Belmont C.C., Perrysburg, Ohio
Point Judith C.C., Narragansett, R.I.
Hackberry Creek C.C., Irving, Texas
Wednesday, May 14 (11)
Southern Dunes G.C., Maricopa, Ariz.
Newport Beach C.C., Newport Beach, Calif.
Wichita C.C., Wichita, Kan.
Clustered Spires G.C., Frederick, Md.
Whippoorwill Club, Armonk, N.Y.
Schuyler Meadows Club, Loudonville, N.Y.
Blue Ridge C.C., Harrisburg, Pa.
Valley Brook C.C., McMurray, Pa.
Tumble Creek Club, Roslyn, Wash.
Edgewood C.C., Sissonville, W. Va.
Riverton C.C., Riverton, Wyo.
Thursday, May 15 (6)
Settlers Bay G.C., Wasilla, Alaska
La Purisima G.C., Lompoc, Calif.
Kensington G. & C.C., Naples, Fla.
Shingle Creek G.C., Orlando, Fla.
Carter Plantation, Springfield, La.
Governors Club, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Monday, May 19 (2)
Gibson Bay G.C., Richmond, Ky.
Old American G.C., The Colony, Texas
About the USGA
The USGA conducts the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Senior Open, as well as 10 national amateur championships, two state team championships and international matches, attracting players and fans from more than 160 countries. Together with The R&A, the USGA governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, equipment standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The USGA’s reach is global with a working jurisdiction in the United States, its territories and Mexico, serving more than 25 million golfers and actively engaging 150 golf associations.
The USGA is one of the world’s foremost authorities on research, development and support of sustainable golf course management practices. It serves as a primary steward for the game’s history and invests in the development of the game through the delivery of its services and its ongoing “For the Good of the Game” grants program. Additionally, the USGA’s Course Rating and Handicap systems are used on six continents in more than 50 countries.
For more information about the USGA, visit http://www.usga.org.
Brian DePasquale, United States Golf Association, http://www.usga.org, +1 (908) 326-1884, [email protected]
Share this article