Stachler, Trahan qualify for U.S. Open
USC golfer Ryan Stachler and former Clemson All-American D.J. Trahan earned berths inthe U.S. Open in sectional qualifying Monday.
Stachler, a rising sophomore from Alpharetta, Ga., forged rounds of 71-65—136 to finish second at Ansley Golf Club in Roswell, Ga., and claimed one of the three spots available at the site. Trahan, who led Clemson to the 2003 NCAA Championship and owns two PGA Tour victories, advanced by sharing first place at Memphis. He posted rounds of 69-62—131.
Otherwise, state players didn’t fare well in the 36-hole competition at 11 sites. Ben Martin (Greenville/Clemson) and Russell Henley (Charleston) withdrew before competition began in Powell, Ohio. Mark Silvers withdrew before the start at Houston. Scott Brown (Aiken/USC Aiken) withdrew after an opening 72 at Powell, and Kyle Stanley (Clemson) withdrew after a first-round 72 at Memphis.
At Roswell, Todd White (Spartanburg, 143), Preston Cole (Greer, 147), Jarrett Swan (Mt. Pleasant, 153), Andrew Orischak (Hilton Head Island, 153), Josh Gallman (Boiling Springs, 155) and Raymond Wooten (Clemson, 164) failed to advance. Billy Kennerly (Clemson, 144) and Dalton Ward (Sumter, 146) fell short in Rockville, Md., and Adam Hart (Columbia, 146) and Zack Byrd (Murrells Inlet, 149) missed the cut at Summit, N.J. Ben Dietrich (Bluffton/USC, 146) failed to advance at Powell, and Sawyer Mills (Easley/Winthrop, 144) missed the cut in Springfield, Ohio. Bryson Nimmer (Bluffton/Clemson) is 18th with 13 holes to play in the rain-delayed event in Jacksonville, Fla.
State players exempt into the Open, set June 16-19 at Oakmont near Pittsburgh, are Dustin Johnson (Columbia/Coastal Carolina), Lucas Glover (Greenville/Clemson), Bill Haas (Greenville), Kevin Kisner (Aiken) and William McGirt (Spartanburg).
Stachler used a sizzling second round to earn his spot in the Open. He had eight birdies in his 7-under- par 65. He played in four events for the Gamecocks in his freshman year with a best finish of 22nd in the Camden Collegiate Invitational.
Trahan, whose last full season on the PGA Tour came in 2012, has played in eight events this season with one top-10 finish and ranks 183 in FedEx points. He has career earnings of nearly $10 million on the PGA Tour that includes tourney wins in 2006 and 2008.