DALLAS – Fernando Barco's birdie on the first playoff hole capped off a remarkable comeback to help the former Boilermaker secure a spot in the 121st United States Open Championship held at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego on June 17 to 20.
It marks the third time in the last four years that a Purdue golfer has advanced to the U.S. Open, as Tyler Duncan (Class of 2012) played in the event in 2018 and 2020. Duncan finished T-56 in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills and T-34 at last year's event at Winged Foot. Duncan also played in the 2015 event at Chambers Bay (MC).
Barco advanced to sectional qualifying at the Dallas Athletic Club after earning medalist honors in local qualifying at Orange Tree Golf Club in Orlando on May 5. There were 115 players competing for 10 qualifying spots at the Dallas Athletic Club.
Barco opened the 36-hole qualifying event Monday morning on shaky ground. He recorded a quadruple-bogey 8 on the par-4 1st hole. He regrouped and would birdie seven of the next 12 holes for an opening-round 69.
He would bogey hole No. 20 on the day to start the second round, but eagled the par-4 6th hole and followed with a birdie on the par-4 8th. Playing around multiple weather delays that would force a Tuesday afternoon finish, a bogey on 16 dropped him to 1-under par for his round and 4-under for the tournament.
Barco would then be forced to wait as others came in to finish. He received a final big break when a player at 5-under par competing in one of the final groups bogeyed his final hole to force a 10-for-1 playoff for the final qualifying spot.
Playing the hole that he quadruple-bogeyed and in the first group, Barco recorded a birdie, then had to wait as two other groups came through. When no birdie was made by the other nine players, Barco had punched his ticket to the U.S. Open, to play in his first career major championship.
Barco will be the first Peruvian to ever play in the U.S. Open.
Barco earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 2017 and ranks ninth on the school's career scoring average chart (73.61). His 72.66 stroke average in 2017 is the 13th best in school history and his eight top-20 finishes during the 2015-16 season rank 10th in school history.
It marks the third time in the last four years that a Purdue golfer has advanced to the U.S. Open, as Tyler Duncan (Class of 2012) played in the event in 2018 and 2020. Duncan finished T-56 in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills and T-34 at last year's event at Winged Foot. Duncan also played in the 2015 event at Chambers Bay (MC).
Barco advanced to sectional qualifying at the Dallas Athletic Club after earning medalist honors in local qualifying at Orange Tree Golf Club in Orlando on May 5. There were 115 players competing for 10 qualifying spots at the Dallas Athletic Club.
Barco opened the 36-hole qualifying event Monday morning on shaky ground. He recorded a quadruple-bogey 8 on the par-4 1st hole. He regrouped and would birdie seven of the next 12 holes for an opening-round 69.
He would bogey hole No. 20 on the day to start the second round, but eagled the par-4 6th hole and followed with a birdie on the par-4 8th. Playing around multiple weather delays that would force a Tuesday afternoon finish, a bogey on 16 dropped him to 1-under par for his round and 4-under for the tournament.
Barco would then be forced to wait as others came in to finish. He received a final big break when a player at 5-under par competing in one of the final groups bogeyed his final hole to force a 10-for-1 playoff for the final qualifying spot.
Playing the hole that he quadruple-bogeyed and in the first group, Barco recorded a birdie, then had to wait as two other groups came through. When no birdie was made by the other nine players, Barco had punched his ticket to the U.S. Open, to play in his first career major championship.
Barco will be the first Peruvian to ever play in the U.S. Open.
Barco earned second-team All-Big Ten honors as a senior in 2017 and ranks ninth on the school's career scoring average chart (73.61). His 72.66 stroke average in 2017 is the 13th best in school history and his eight top-20 finishes during the 2015-16 season rank 10th in school history.