Southern Pines, N.C. – For the second straight year, National Golf Club has been selected to host local qualifying for the U.S. Open. A field of 132 professionals and elite amateurs will tee it up at National May 19 with the goal of advancing on to sectional qualifying, and eventually to the 2005 U.S. Open at nearby Pinehurst No. 2.
“A lot of guys like coming here to play National Golf Club because they feel par will be a good score at this course, which is normally the case in the U.S. Open,” says Tom Parsons, National’s director of golf. “They feel if they can shoot par, they have a chance.”
In addition, Parsons said the areas around the greens at National feature similarities to this year’s Open venue.
“We do have the tightness around the greens and the collection areas similar to Pinehurst No. 2,” he says. “It gives them so many different ways to play shots around the greens, very similar to what I think they’ll be running into the week of the Open.”
Canadian Brad Fritsch, last year’s qualifying medallist with a 69, is scheduled to return to National. Also scheduled to appear are: former PGA Tour player Cameron Yancey of Blackstone, Va.; former UNC All-American Dustin Bray of Asheboro; Charlotte’s Stephen Woodard, second on the Canadian Tour’s money list last year; former UNC Greensboro standout Andy Bare of Pinehurst; and former N.C. State All-American Jason Moon of Wake Forest, N.C.
Tee times begin at 8 a.m. off the front nine and back nine.
Parsons considers it a privilege to be among 107 sites nationwide chosen to host local qualifying for our country’s national championship.
“To be selected by the USGA to host this event is a testament to the quality of the golf course,” he says. “We’re excited to be part of the road to this year’s Open.”
Golfers qualifying at National advance to 36-hole sectional qualifying at one of 14 sites. Sectional qualifying is May 30, June 7 and June 8. The U.S. Open is June 16 through 19 at Pinehurst.
Local qualifying at National is open to the public. For information, call 910-295-5340.
National Golf Club to host Open qualifying
For the second straight year, National Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., has been selected to host local qualifying for the U.S. Open.
