John Rollins, a Virginia Commonwealth University senior, provided the most excitement as the U.S. Open local qualifying round was completed yesterday at Eagle's Nest.
With eight players for seven places, six made it at the first hole, and Rollins, the reigning Virginia State Amateur champion, clinched his berth with a second-hole birdie.
Dean Wilson, an Elkridge Club assistant professional, and a qualifier for the Maryland Open last week, made it with the only first-hole birdie on a 12-foot putt. Five joined him with routine pars.
Playing in the first of two foursomes, Rollins, a playoff loser in last year's local qualifying round, made it tough on himself right away when he drove out of bounds at the par-4 first hole. With his second ball, he reached the green in two, then watched his 14-foot putt pause on the left edge of the hole, and fall in for a bogey-5.
In the next group, Bryan Jackson, a James Madison University student from Portsmouth, Va., bounced his second shot over the green, chipped back to seven feet and saw his par putt slide by the cup.
At the second hole, Rollins, whose 270-yard drive was some 50 yards short of Jackson's, put his second shot above and right of the flagstick, then curled in a 17-foot putt, the ball again just falling in on its final turn. Jackson's 15-foot putt stayed wide right.
The area's sectional qualifying round will be held June 3 at Woodmont CC in Rockville.
Qualifiers: a-Joey Chuasiriporn, Hunt Valley, 35-3267; David Newsom, Hidden Creek, 36-3369; a-James Driscoll, Newton Centre, Mass., 36-3369; Kevin Boynton, Alexandria, Va., 36-3369; Michael Elias, Bethesda CC, 34-3670; Dennis Winters, Lakewood 35-3570.
Harvey Haddock, U. Maryland GC, 35-3671; a-John Rollins, Richmond, Va., 36-3571; a-Lynn Kilduff, Dallas, Pa., 35-3671; Jim Gormley, Palos Verdes, Calif., 33-3871; Dean Wilson, Elkridge Club, 34-3771; Robert Calamari, Jr., Chocowinity, N.C., 36-3571; Gregory Lesher, Lebanon, Pa.
Alternates: a-Bryan Jackson, Portsmouth, Va., 34-3771; a-Cole Kelly, Athens, Ga., 34-3872.
a-denotes amateur
Pub Date: 5/21/97
