Allenby, Chianello Advance Through U.S. Open Local Qualifiers
May 7, 2013
CORVALLIS, Ore. - James Allenby and Nick Chianello took one step closer to qualifying for the U.S Open on Monday, although the former and current Oregon State men's golfers took a different path to get there.
Allenby, who played for the Beavers from 2007-08 and earned all-conference honors both seasons, fired a course-record 10-under 61 at Bellingham Golf and Country Club in Bellingham, Wash., to win the qualifier by five strokes.
Chianello, who is wrapping up his senior season, shot a 2-under 70 at Portland Golf Club and then had to defeat five other golfers, including teammate David Fink, for the sixth and final spot.
Both golfers advance to one of 13 U.S. Open sectional sites that will take place on Monday, June 3. Played over 36 holes in one day, the number of qualifying spots is determined by the quality and quantity of the field at each location.
Oregon State senior golfer Nick Sherwood advanced through both the local and sectional qualifiers last year to earn a trip to the 112th U.S. Open Championship that was played at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif.
Allenby shot a ridiculous 7-under 29 on the front nine that included an eagle and five birdies, and added another eagle on the par-4 10th hole, a birdie and seven pars on the back nine to shoot the record on a course he had never seen until Monday.
Chianello was even through 12 holes before carding birdies on the par-4 13th and par-5 18th holes to get him in the playoff. He earned the berth to sectionals with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
Matt Rawitzer finished in a tie for 15th place with an even-par 71 in Bellingham, while in Portland Fink tied for sixth with a 2-under 70, Sherwood tied for 15th with an even-par 72, freshman Brett Johnson shot a 6-over 78 for a tie for 50th and redshirt freshman Brian Jung finished with a 7-over 79 for a tie for 63rd.
The road to the U.S. Open begins at one of 111 local qualifying sites around the country, between May 3 and May 16. Each local qualifier consists of 18 holes, with several players, determined by the size of the field, advancing to sectional qualifying.
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