Five Advance to U.S. Open Final Qualifying
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
LINCOLN – The U.S. Open is the pinnacle of the golf world. Every player dreams about competing for a national championship and the road to that goal begins with the annual local qualifying.
On Tuesday, Kirkbrae Country Club once again hosted the U.S. Open Local Qualifier and five golfers advanced to the next round with hopes of earning a berth into the game’s greatest championship.
Bennett Masterson, of Westerly, along with Eric Barlow, of Canton, Mass., earned co-medalist honors (5-under). Cranston’s Mike Caparco (4-under), Carter Nunez, of New Jersey (3-under), and Owen Quinn, of Holden, Mass. (3-under), also advance to the next round. Bobby Leopold and Brendon Ray are the first and second alternates, respectively.
The final qualifying day – or “The Longest Day in Golf” – will be played at nine different locations and feature a 36-hole event on June 3. The fortunate ones will compete for the 124th U.S. Open June 13-16 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C.
“I’m very excited,” Masterson said. “It’s the longest day in golf. I’ve seen a lot of videos of it and I wanted the opportunity. Just to think that I’m a really good day away from the U.S. Open is kind of ridiculous.”
Masterson, 21, has been playing well this season and he birdied two of the final three holes Tuesday at Kirkbrae to earn co-medalist honors. Barlow was one of the most consistent golfers the entire round, especially with the putter.
“It was just one of those good days where I was making a lot of putts and hit a lot of greens,” he said. “I hit about 16, or 17 greens, so I just had it going my way today.”
Barlow, 45, a pro out of Winchester Country Club has experienced this excitement a few times in the past, but never advance to the U.S. Open. He’s hoping this time will be different.
“It’s exciting to move onto the next one,” he said. “I’m kind of dreading going home and telling my wife because her birthday is June 3 and I’m going to be playing 36 holes that day and not celebrating her birthday, but it’s exciting.”
This is the first time Caparco, who plays out of Agawam Hunt, has advanced to the final qualifying round. He’s been playing outstanding golf to start the season and recently won the Rhode Island Four-Ball Championship along with partner Jamie Lukowicz.
“It feels great,” Caparco said of advancing. “It hasn’t really set in yet, but I’m excited about getting out there for a chance to play in the U.S. Open – that would be sick.”
Conditions were phenomenal at Kirkbrae. It was perfect golf weather and the players raved about the course.
“This place is always in perfect shape,” Leopold said. “They’ve hosted numerous events for us – the RIGA – and they’ve put themselves ahead of other clubs, saying ‘We’re going to host and put out the best product we have.’ They go out of their way to show off their golf course. They go out of their way to host things and in this day and age when other clubs are shying away from (hosting) is awesome. This course is in perfect shape. The members and staff to allow us to come here is great.”