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Dudley Hart WDs; Amateur Lewis Now In 2009 Open Field

Farmingdale, N.Y. – Dudley Hart, on Saturday, became the second golfer to withdraw from the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course due to back problems, putting amateur Scott Lewis of Henderson, Nev., into the field.

Because Hart was fully exempt, USGA officials went to the next sectional qualifying site on the re-allotment list, which was Somis, Calif. The 20-year-old Lewis, who just completed his sophomore year at the University of California-Santa Barbara, accepted the place. He was the odd man out of a 4-for-3 playoff for the final three available qualifying positions at Saticoy Country Club on June 8.

On Friday, professional Andrew Svoboda got into the field when Sweden’s Robert Karlsson withdrew due to an eye infection. It was the second consecutive year the 29-year-old Svoboda had gotten into the Open as a first alternate from the Purchase, N.Y., sectional site.

Lewis becomes the 15th amateur to qualify for the 2009 U.S. Open, although Clark Klaasen said he plans to turn pro at registration.

In 2005, Lewis won the Nevada State 2A individual title and was named the Las Vegas Review Journal’s 2A Male Golfer of the Year as well as Nevada’s 2A Player of the Year. He was the Nevada 4A state runner-up in 2007, but was still named the state’s 4A Player of the Year.

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