Tour players to teenagers play for U.S. Open golf berths in desert qualifiers
From golfers with PGA Tour experience to teenagers just starting their path in golf, the U.S. Open local qualifying tournament at Ironwood Country Club on Tuesday featured a diverse and talented group of pro and amateur golfers.
Anthony Paolucci of Rancho Santa Fe, who has eight PGA Tour starts to his credit, fired a 7-under 65 on the demanding South Course at Ironwood in Palm Desert to take medalist honors and earn one of five berths into sectional qualifying next month for the U.S. Open.
“I played very well. I got off to a good start,” Paolucci said. “I started birdie-birdie. So I just played very smart. I played (Ironwood) for the first time (Monday) in a practice round, and they had the cups marked on the green. I just noticed that if you are above the hole, it is very difficult.”
More: U.S. Open dreams begin for golfers in local desert qualifiers
With two eagles, four birdies and just one bogey, Paolucci’s 65 was good for a one-stroke victory over Jared Sawada of Hawaii on the South Course, considered one of the tougher courses to host local qualifying in California.
No desert player came close to the 3-under 69 score needed to grab one of the five automatic qualifying berths from the 90-player field. Amateur Kent Karlstrom of Rancho Mirage, who played on the Toyota Cup Tour for the SCPGA, was closest with a 73, while Blake Schmitt, a pro at Ironwood, amateur Mark Scheibach of Bermuda Dunes, Byron Smith of Indian Wells and Brad Whalen of Cathedral City all finished with 74.
The dream of playing through local and sectional qualifying and making it to the U.S. Open, to be played in June at Los Angeles Country Club, remains strong for golfers of all ages, including 15-year-old Luke Ringkamp. A freshman on the Palm Desert High School boys' golf team, Ringkamp was playing his home course Tuesday and finished with a 76.
“I always have the mentality to win. It doesn’t matter what it is,” Ringkamp said after his second attempt at Open qualifying at Ironwood. “Sometimes things don’t go my way, but I always have that mentality.”
Amateurs must have a handicap of 1.4 or lower to enter a local qualifier, and anyone who declares himself a professional can enter as well. Golfers who shoot particularly high scores in the event will receive letters from the United States Golf Association questioning their right to play in the event next year.
In a local qualifier Monday at Classic Club in Palm Desert, no desert golfer earned any of the five qualifying berths. Amateur Ian Gilligan of Reno, Nev., was medalist with a 6-under 66. Jake Vincent of Bermuda Dunes and amateur Nick Ellis of Palm Desert each shot 75.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Tour players to teenagers play for U.S. Open golf berths in desert qualifiers
