2008 U.S. Open Local Qualifying #1

Qualifiers:	Total
John Saari, Lilburn, GA	68
Greg Kennedy, Duluth, GA (a)	69
Jay Moseley, Bainbridge, GA (a)	70
Oliver Schniederjans, Powder Springs, GA (a)	70
Kevin Roman, Roswell, GA	70
Chris Stroud, Houston, Texas	71  *
Elmer Zimmerman, Cumming, GA	71  *
Will Claxton, Swainsboro, GA	71  *
Chris Kirk, St. Simons Island, GA	71  *
Alternates:
1st Zack Sucher, Mobile, AL (a)	71  *
2nd Jeff Belk, Marietta, GA (a)	72  *

 

(a)  denotes amateur 
*  determined in playoff 

 

Notes:
Professional John Saari of Lilburn, Ga,, earned medalist honors at 2-under-par 68. He edged amateur Greg Kennedy of Duluth, Ga. They were the only two players in the 128-member field to shoot under par.

Three players nabbed the third, fourth and fifth qualifying spots by tying at even-par 70 -- Jay Moseley of Bainbridge, Ga., a senior on the Auburn golf team, Kevin Roman of Roswell, Ga., an assistant professional at Atlanta's Cherokee Town and Country Club, and Oliver Schniederjans, a 14-year-old from Powder Springs who plays on Harrison High School's golf team.

There was a five-man playoff among those who scored 71 for the final four qualifying spots and the first alternate position. Professional Chris Stroud of Houston, Texas, and another Cherokee assistant professional, Elmer "Chip" Zimmerman, originally of Pittsburgh, both carded birdie on the first playoff hole, No. 1, to secure qualifying spots. Will Claxton of Swainsboro, Ga., posted a birdie on the third playoff hole (also No. 1) for the eighth qualifying spot. Chris Kirk of St. Simons Island, Ga., a former University of Georgia golfer, took the final qualifying spot with a par on the fourth playoff hole (No. 18). Zack Sucher of Mobile, Ala., currently a member of the golf team at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, fell to the first alternate position with a bogey on the same hole.

There were two players tied at 72 -- amateur Jeff Belk of Marietta, Ga., and Andrew Buckle of Scottsdale, Ariz. Belk claimed the second alternate position when Buckle did not show for the playoff.

A second local qualifier will be held at Whitewater Creek Country Club in Fayetteville on Monday, May 19. Sectional qualifying will consist of 36 holes of stoke play to be conducted at 14 locations around the country May 28 and June 2. Ansley Golf Club-Settindown Creek in Roswell will host a sectional qualifier on June 2.

The 108th U.S. Open Championship will be held at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., June 12-15. Entries were open to any professional and to amateurs with USGA Handicap Indexes not exceeding 1.4. The U.S. Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association.