From golfers with PGA Tour experience to teenagers just starting their path in golf, Tuesday’s US Open local qualifier at Ironwood Country Club showcased a diverse and talented group of professional and amateur golfers.
Rancho Santa Fe’s Anthony Paolucci, who has eight PGA Tour starts to his credit, shot a 7-under 65 on the challenging South Course at Ironwood in Palm Desert to earn the medalist’s honor and one of five spots for to secure section qualification next month’s US Open.
“I played very well. I had a good start,” said Paolucci. “I started birdie-birdie. So I just played really smart. I played (Ironwood) for the first time (Monday) in a practice round and they had the cups marked on the green. I just realized it’s very difficult when you’re over the hole.”
More:US Open dreams begin for golfers in local desert qualifiers
With two eagles, four birdies and just one bogey, Paolucci’s 65 was good for a one-shot win over Hawaii’s Jared Sawada on the South Course, considered one of the toughest courses for local qualifiers in California.
No Desert player came anywhere near the 3-under-69 score required to earn one of the five automatic qualifiers from the 90-player field. Amateur Kent Karlstrom of Rancho Mirage, who played for the SCPGA on the Toyota Cup Tour, was closest with a 73, while Blake Schmitt, a pro at Ironwood, amateur Mark Scheibach of Bermuda Dunes, Byron Smith of Indian Wells and Brad Whalen of Cathedral City ended it all at 74.
Golfers of all ages, including 15-year-old Luke Ringkamp, have dreams of passing local and section qualifications and making it to the US Open, to be played at the Los Angeles Country Club in June. Ringkamp, a freshman on the Palm Desert High School boys’ golf team, played on his home course Tuesday and finished with a 76.
“I always have the mentality to win. It doesn’t matter what it is,” Ringkamp said after his second attempt to qualify for the Open at Ironwood. “Sometimes things don’t go the way I want, but I always have that mentality.”
Amateurs must have a handicap of 1.4 or lower to enter a local qualifier, and anyone who declares themselves a professional can enter as well. Golfers who score particularly high at the event will receive letters from the United States Golf Association questioning their right to participate in next year’s event.
In a local qualifier Monday at the Classic Club in Palm Desert, no desert golfer earned one of the five qualifiers. Amateur Ian Gilligan from Reno, Nevada was a medalist with a 6-under 66. Jake Vincent of Bermuda Dunes and amateur Nick Ellis of Palm Desert both shot 75.
