News
Monday, May 25, 2009
Ace Secures Peter Hanson Spot In U.S. Open Field
Peter Hanson registered an ace on the second playoff hole at Walton Heath G.C. to secure the final spot into the 2009 U.S. Open at a sectional qualifier held May 25 in Surrey, England. (John Mummert)
Peter Hanson secured a spot in the 2009 U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in spectacular fashion on Monday during an international sectional qualifier held at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey, England. Check scores here.
With a seven-man playoff whittled down to just three players vying for the 11th and last available spot, the Swede edged Stephen Gallacher of Scotland and England’s Richard Bland on the second playoff hole by holing out a 6-iron at the 206-yard par-3 17th hole on the Old Course.
The seventh ace of his career came just two weeks after his sixth during the Irish Open at County Louth.
“I was so pumped up that I switched from a 5-iron to a 6-iron,” said Hanson, who tied for 30th at the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.
“This game is just so stupid sometimes.… Obviously I am delighted to get through, but to do it like that is unbelievable. You need a bit of luck with any hole-in-one, and I got my share today.”
The playoff began with seven golfers who shot 5-under 139 competing for five spots. Jose-Manuel Lara of Spain, Sweden’s Johan Edfors, Jean-Francois Lucquin of France and Francesco Molinari of Italy each recorded a birdie-3 at the par-4 first hole on the New Course. Molinari is the younger brother of 2005 U.S. Amateur champion Edoardo Molinari.
That left Hanson, Gallacher and Bland to play for the last spot. They moved to No. 17 on the Old Course – both the Old and New Courses were used for the 36-hole qualifier – where Hanson ended the qualifier with his dramatic ace.
“I thought that I would go for a full 6-iron and play for the middle of the green,” added Hanson.
The qualifier began with 75 players. Raphael Jacquelin of France and Simon Khan of England shared medalist honors at 9-under 135. They finished a stroke ahead of England’s Simon Dyson. Thomas Levet of France carded 137, while David McLardy of South Africa and David Horsey of England each shot 6-under 138.
“My first U.S. Open, that is great news for me,” said Jacquelin, a two-time winner on the PGA European Tour who tied for second at the BMW Italian Open two weeks ago. “I have never been to Bethpage, but Chris, my caddie, played there with Jean Van de Velde a few years ago so he knows it quite well. I am delighted to be going.”
Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, a three-time U.S. Open runner-up, withdrew prior to the qualifier. Former Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cuppers Nick Dougherty, Oliver Wilson, Richie Ramsay (2006 U.S. Amateur champion), Paul McGinley, Robert Dinwiddie and Michael Hoey failed to qualify as did past European Ryder Cuppers Niclas Fasth of Sweden and England’s David Howell.
Another international qualifier also took place in Japan, where New Zealand’s David Smail led five qualifiers with an 11-under 133 at Ryugasaki Golf Club north of Tokyo. Other qualifiers included Angelo Que of the Philippines, Kaname Yokoo and Shintaro Kai of Japan, and Sang Moon Bae of Korea.
Japanese teenage sensation Ryo Ishikawa, 17, failed to qualify, shooting even-par 144 for 18th place.
An additional 13 36-hole sectional qualifiers will take place in the U.S. on June 8. The U.S. Open is June 18-21.
USGA Digital Media staff writer David Shefter compiled this report.
