University of Oregon golfer tops in U.S. Open qualifying

Aaron Wise (Lake Elsinore, Calif.) led seven players who advanced to U.S. Open sectional qualifying last month, after local qualifying was held at Pronghorn Resort – Nicklaus in Bend, Ore.

Five players at even par tied for the last four spots that would advance to sectional qualifying. However, Jarred Bossio (Olympia, Wash.) dismissed himself from the playoff after leaving for home. Bossio will be the first alternate from this local qualifying.

Wise, a sophomore at the University of Oregon and sixth in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), fired a 5-under par 67 to earn medalist honors in a field with 60 amateurs and 60 professionals. His round included seven birdies and two bogeys, running away from the rest of the field with birdies on three of his final six holes.

Justin Kadin (Corvallis, Ore.) shot a 2-under par 70 to finish in second place. Ryan Gronlund (Pleasanton, Calif.) earned a third place finish after shooting a 1-under par 71.

The other four players who qualified for sectional qualifying all shot an even-par round of 72: Derek Barron (Lakewood, Wash.), Conner Kumpula (Albany, Ore.), Matt Marshall (Carlton, Ore.) and Sulman Raza (Eugene, Ore.).

• Daniel Miernicki of Santee, Calif. shot a 3-under par 67 and took medalist honors in leading the field of 121 players who competed in U.S. Open local qualifying at the par-70 Tumble Creek Club in Roslyn, Wash.

Along with Miernicki, six other players advanced from this local qualifier to the sectional qualifier, which will be held on June 6. The 2016 U.S. Open Championship is being held June 16-19 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.

Under ideal weather conditions, Miernicki made the turn at 3-under par and completed the back nine with nine consecutive pars.

Miernicki, 26, played four years at the University of Oregon, winning a school-record five individual titles and being named All-American his senior year. He turned professional in 2012 and currently plays on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada.

Among the other players to qualify are Aaron Whalen of Ephrata, Wash., a freshman at Washington State University who twice won the 2A boys’ state high school championship; Brian Thornton, a PGA professional at Meridian Valley CC in Kent, Wash. who won the 2009 Washington Open, 2010 Northwest Open and 2012 Oregon Open; Carl Yuan of Lake Mary, Fla., a freshman at the University of Washington; and Chris Killmer of Bellingham, Wash.

In a playoff for the final two spots, Sam Warkentin of Bainbridge Island, Wash. and Corey Prugh of Spokane, Wash. both made par on the first hole, securing their spot.