Mierzejewski Advances to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier
5/15/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
ATLANTA, Ga. – Georgia Southern golfer Matt Mierzejewski posted a 2-under-par 70 to tie for second in U.S. Open local qualifying action Tuesday at Atlanta National Golf Club. The sophomore advances to the sectional qualifier at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ballground, Ga., June 3.
Sectional qualifying is the second and final stage for U.S. Open hopefuls. Played over 36 holes in one day, sectional qualifying is a test of skill and endurance, with only a handful of available spots at each site - the number of qualifying spots is determined by the quality and quantity of the field at each location. There are 13 sectional sites - 11 in the U.S., one in England and one in Japan.
"I'm really excited about playing in the upcoming sectional qualifier," said Mierzejewski. "It puts me one step closer to making a dream come true."
The game's most democratic major championship since 1895, the U.S. Open offers an opportunity to play on golf's biggest stage alongside golf's biggest names. The two-stage qualification process helps decide a field of 156 players from some 9,000 entrants for the 113th playing of the national championship at Merion Golf Club, in Ardmore, Pa.
Mierzejewski was on the Eagle quintets that won the AutoTrader Collegiate Classic and Old Dominion/Outer Banks Intercollegiate Tournaments in consecutive weeks in October. It was the first time the Eagles won consecutive tournaments since 1982. Mierzejewski helped the Eagles with consecutive scores of 73 in the final two rounds at the AutoTrader. He posted a pair of 75s at the ODU/OBX Intercollegiate.
Mierzejewski's best round of the season was a 69 in the first round of the Warrior Wave Invitational in Hawaii in November, and he notched a 72 in the opening round of Georgia Southern's home tournament, the Schenkel Invitational. He averaged 75.75 strokes a round in four tournaments for the Eagles.
Mierzejewski joins classmate Scott Wolfes, who won co-medalist honors at Sawgrass East/West Course Monday, in advancing to U.S. Open sectional qualifying. Georgia Southern junior Will Evans and assistant coach Carter Collins also played in the local qualifier at Sawgrass but did not advance to sectional qualifying.
The Eagle golf team, which earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Championships, opens regional play at Ohio State's Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday. Georgia Southern has won three team tournament titles in 2012-13 and finished in the top-5 in six events.
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