Hertfordshire tour pro Matt Wallace continued his incredible rise up the ranks after winning a place in next month’s US Open.
The 27 year old from Moor Park was one of 12 players to earn spots in the season’s second Major championship after taking part in 36-hole qualifying tournament held at Walton Heath Golf Club on bank holiday Monday.
Wallace fired rounds of 67 and 68 around the Surrey venue’s Old and New courses, and then came through a seven-man playoff to earn one of four remaining spots to join the field at Erin Hills in Wisconsin from June 15-18.
Speaking about the prospect of teeing it up in his first major, Wallace, who earned his European Tour card after winning last month’s Portugal Open, said: “My first major, I’m so happy. I just can’t believe it. Six months ago I was on the Alps Tour, which is crazy. I’ve just had the best six or seven months of my life.”
He added: “I played really nicely, but I missed so many putts. That’s why I was so emotional at the end – I thought I’d let it slip. I’m so relieved. It’s been a really long day, but it’s just the best day of my life.”
Wallace will be joined at Erin Hills by three other Englishmen – Aaron Rai, who topped the leaderboard with rounds 66 and 64, and Andrew Johnston and Eddie Pepperell.
Johnston, who finished tied 21″ at the BMW PGA Championship, shot rounds of 68 and 66 to win automatic qualification, with his cause helped considerably by a hole-in-one at the second hole in the afternoon round, and an eagle at the par-five 16th.
Johnston, whose world ranking has slipped to 119th following a dip in form, said: “I played well today, really solid. I was a bit disappointed just to be four under in the morning section, but missed a couple of putts. That made it difficult in the afternoon, but I played really well, with fewer mistakes. The hole-in-one was funny, you can drive the first hole with a three-wood and then I three-putted it for par. Then I had a good number at the second and hit a nice eight iron and I think it bumped past the hole and spun back in.”
He added: “Playing this is like being a junior again, where you play 18, then come back in, have a quick bite to eat and head back out. It doesn’t really bother me, it’s not long enough to be hanging around waiting and then go out and warm up again. I just went straight back out and it was fine.
“I enjoy the US Open – you know it’s going to be difficult. You’ve just got to prepare for that and go and dig in from the first hole onwards. I think if you play well there you can end up in a good position, because if people aren’t quite on their game, they really struggle.”
Rai, who is currently enjoying a strong start to the season on the Challenge Tour, having won two of the first five events, made an incredible late dash with five birdies and an eagle in his final nine holes of the 36-hole event to card a second round 64 and win by one shot with a 14 under total.
The Wolverhampton player said: “It’s a dream come true to play in any Major, and with it being the US Open it makes it extra special. It was two very good rounds of golf today, and to win on the Challenge Tour you have to play very well also, so I wouldn’t say this is above those or that those are above this – they are all very good achievements.”
The others to qualify in regulation play were South Africans Oliver Bekker, George Coetzee and Brandon Stone, Frenchman Joёl Stalter, and Welshman Bradley Dredge.
A play-off was required to determine the final four spots, with seven battling it out as darkness fell. Paul Dunne and Thomas Aiken were the first to make it through before Wade Ormsby and Matt Wallace joined them. Those to just miss out were Hertfordshire’s Callum Shinkwin and Surrey-based amateur David Boote, who shot an opening 62, but followed it up with a second round 73.
Leading Scores
130 A Rai (Eng) 66 64;
131 H Li (Chn) 67 64;
132 R Ramsay (Sco) 66 66; A Levy (Fra) 63 69;
133 J Stalter (Fra) 68 65; E Pepperell (Eng) 67 66; O Bekker (RSA) 67 66; B Dredge (Wal) 62 71;
134 B Stone (RSA) 68 66; A Johnston (Eng) 68 66; G Coetzee (RSA) 64 70;
135 G Bourdy (Fra) 71 64; T Aiken (RSA) 68 67; P Dunne (Irl) 67 68; M Wallace (Eng) 67 68; W Ormsby (Aus) 66 69; C Shinkwin (Eng) 65 70; D Boote (am) (Wal) 62 73;