Augenstein Medals at 66, Five Others Advance in U.S. Open Qualifying
On Monday, Old Warson Country Club played host to the 2018 US Open local qualifier tournament. The field started off with 103 players competing for six spots in the sectional qualifying round.
The six spots were filled by five people finishing under par and one player sneaking in through a playoff after his round at even par. The medalist of the local qualifier was John Augenstein, a sophomore at Vanderbilt University and is from Owensboro, KY. Augenstein finished five under shooting a 66 on the day. Although the weather was sunny and around 80 degrees, the course was wet from the recent rain that is been in the area and Augenstein said that made it a little more difficult to play.
“I had six or seven mud balls that are tough to judge sometimes,” he said. “Luckily I did a good job of it today.”
Augenstein also said the key for him on Monday was to keep the ball as straight as possible. “The key today was to keep the ball in the fairway,” he said. “The rough is really thick and if you’re not in position off the tee it’s going to be tough to score.”
For much of the rest of the field it was tough to score as only nine players finished the round of 18 with an even par score or better.
Dylan Meyer of Evansville, Indiana made it close at the top as he shot a 68, three under. Augenstein and Meyer were followed up by Kyle Weldon, Jay Williamson, Wesley Hunter at one under and four other players tied for the final sixth spot.
Grant Milling, Justin Bryant, Kevin Kring and Andrew Pranger battled it out for the final qualifying spot and the two alternate spots in a three-hole playoff.
Milling, from Bloomington, Illinois earned the sixth spot in the second hole of the playoff and qualified for the 2018 US Open sectional qualifier.
Pranger, from St. Louis and Kring, from Springfield, Missouri grabbed the 1st and 2nd alternate spots respectively after the final hole of the playoff.
For the full field results, click here.
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