WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ââ'¬" Purdue junior Brian Carlson advanced out of U.S. Open local qualifying Monday after placing second in a qualifier held at the Delaware Country Club in Muncie, Indiana.
Carlson finished second after shooting a 3-under par 67 to advance to sectional qualifying as one-of-five players to advance from the site. A total of 80 players were competing for five spots and Carlson was easily within the cutline of 1-under par. Drew Alexander earned medalist honors at 4-under par 66.
Several other Purdue golfers competed in the qualifier. Timmy Hildebrand and Jarle Volden finished tied for seventh at 1-under 69, Fernando Barco was tied for 11th at 1-over par, Thomas Lewis tied for 36th at 6-over par and Nate Pirtle was tied for 71st at 12-over par.
In addition, incoming freshman Joe Weiler was tied for 19th at 2-over par.
Carlson started the round on a high note, registering three straight birdies on Nos. 2 through 4 to move to 3-under for the day. He gave one back on No. 6, but birdied No. 12, before ending bogey-birdie-par, to advance to sectional qualifying for the second straight year.
Sectional qualifying will take place at 12 sites around the country June 5. The 117th U.S. Open Championship will be played June 12-18, at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin.
Carlson and his teammates will compete in the NCAA Regional at the Kampen Course on May 15 to 17, in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers are the No. 7 seed, and the top-five team finishers will advance to the NCAA National Championships May 25 to 31, at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois.
