Gator Golfer Tyson Alexander Qualifies for 2009 U.S. Open
Tuesday, June 9, 2009 | Men's Golf
Five members of the 2008-09 University of Florida men's golf team played in U.S. Open qualifiers on Monday, and Tyson Alexander (Gainesville, Fla.) earned a place in the 156-player field at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, New York.
Over 750 golfers played at 13 qualifying sites in hopes of earning one of 63 remaining spots in the 2009 U.S. Open, to be played on the Bethpage Black Course June 18-21.
Alexander made a 15-foot birdie putt on his final hole to finish second at the Orlando qualifier, held at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club. He shot 71 in the morning round, and fired a 66 in the afternoon to finish one shot back.
Gator alum and former UF assistant golf coach Josh McCumber won the qualifier with a 136 (66-70). McCumber will be playing in the U.S. Open for the second time. Gary Woodland, paired with Alexander on Monday, was the third player to qualify.
Play was halted in the afternoon due to rain and lightning while Alexander and Woodland were on the 16th green, but both players returned and two-putted to make par. They both got up-and-down for par on the par-3 17th hole and then both sank birdie putts on the 18th hole to earn their spots at Bethpage.
“Those last couple holes, I was fighting not to think about what was at stake,” Alexander said. “I was just trying to hit good golf shots. It's hard when the U.S. Open is on the line.”
In the afternoon, Alexander shot 31 on the front nine, mostly because of his excellent work with the putter. He made a 25-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole, a 30-foot birdie on No. 6 and a 30-foot eagle putt on the ninth hole.
Alexander became the third generation of his family to earn a berth in a U.S. Open, following his father Buddy Alexander, the head coach at Florida, and his grandfather, Skip Alexander. Skip played in the U.S. Open five times, between 1946 and 1950, finishing as high as 11th (1948). Buddy won the U.S. Amateur in 1986 to qualify for his first U.S. Open and also qualified for the 1994 event at Oakmont.
Tyson Alexander, who just finished his junior year at Florida, won the Azalea Invitational earlier this year, one of the nation's elite amateur tournaments. He is currently ranked 12th in the United States in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Amateur Rankings.
Alexander was the only Gator from the 2008-09 team to earn a spot in the U.S. Open. Bank Vongvanij (Bradenton, Fla.) tied for 36th in the Orlando qualifier with a 148 (74-74). At the Rockville, Md. qualifier, Will Strickler (Charlottesville, Va.) tied for 52nd (75-76=151) and Robbie Wight (Palm Beach, Fla.) finished 58th (74-80=154). Billy Horschel (Grant, Fla.) tied for 40th (72-70=142) out of 110 players in the Memphis qualifier.
Tommy Chung Hao Mou, part of the incoming class for the Gators for the 2009-10 season, finished in a tie for 24th (70-76=146) in the Orlando qualifier.
Former Gators Dudley Hart and Camilo Villegas earned exemption status into the 2009 U.S. Open.
2009 U.S. Open Qualifiers
June 8, 2009
Florida Golfer Results
Orlando, Florida – Lake Nona Golf & Country Club
2. Tyson Alexander 71-66=137
T24. Tommy Chung Hao Mou 70-76=146
T36. Bank Vongvanij 74-74=148
Rockville, Maryland – Woodmont Country Club
T52. Will Strickler 75-76=151
58. Robbie Wight 74-80=154
Memphis, Tennessee – Colonial Country Club
T40. Billy Horschel 72-70=142
-UF-
