Old Oaks and Century Host US Open Sectional Today

A strong field of 80 golfers will take their shots at qualifying for the U.S. Open today at Old Oaks CC and Century CC in Purchase.  The contestants will play a round on each course, with a mere handful going on to Pinehurst for the big show in a couple of weeks.

Local contenders in the field include Brian Gaffney of Darien, CT, who made a double eagle on the 508-yard, par-five 12th hole at Bedens Brook Club while earning medalist honors in local qualifying. Gaffney, who shot 3-under 69 in the first round qualifier, qualified for his first U.S. Open in 2012. He is the head professional at Quaker Ridge GC.

Steve Scott, head professional at Paramount CC in New City, NY, will contend as well. Scott was the 1996 U.S. Amateur runner-up to Tiger Woods, losing in 38 holes.  He played on the PGA, Web.com and Canadian Tours was a member of two USA Walker Cup Teams, in 1997 and 1999.

Cameron Wilson, 21, of Rowayton, CT, won the 2014 NCAA Division I Championship just last week, defeating Georgia Tech’s Oliver Schniederjans with a 10-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole. Wilson, a senior at Stanford, qualified for the 2012 U.S. Open at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, and has competed in three U.S. Amateurs.

Other notables in the field: Lee Janzen (1993 and 1998 U.S. Open champion); Web.com Tour winners Kevin Foley, Jon Curran, Jamie Lovemark (2007 USA Walker Cup Team) and Jim Herman; amateur Nathan Smith (four-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion; three-time USA Walker Cup competitor); Michael McCoy (2013 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion); amateur Cameron Wilson (2014 NCAA Division I individual champion); amateur Brandon Matthews (2013 U.S. Amateur quarterfinalist; alternate for 2013 U.S. Open).

The qualifiers are open to the public, by the way, and spectators are encouraged to attend.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf