Former University of Denver golfer Oskar Arvidsson will realize a dream as he qualified earlier this week for the British Open.
The golfer from Sweden not only landed a spot in the third major championship of the year, but he earned medalist honors out of a field of 72 at the Gailes Links Golf Course in Scotland on Tuesday. He carded rounds of 64-68 for a 10-under-par 132 total in the final stage of The Open Qualifying Series, leaving him four strokes ahead of runner-up Scott Fernandez of Spain. Colin Montgomerie, who once competed in 21 consecutive British Opens but hasn’t played since 2010, was the third qualfier at the site, finishing at 137.
Arvidsson, ranked No. 1,418 in the world, eagled his first hole, a 346-yard par-4, to spark his big day.
Arvidsson, who turned pro two years ago and has been playing on the Asian Development Tour, has dreamed of competing in the British Open since as a youngster watching a video of Mark Calcavecchia winning the 1989 Open at Royal Troon. Coincidentally, that Scottish course will host this year’s Open July 14-17.
During his senior season at DU (2013-14), Arvidsson won the individual title at the 2013 Ram Masters Invitational in Fort Collins, along with Cameron Harrell. (Arvidsson is pictured above during that tournament.)
In all, 12 players qualified for the British Open in four qualifying tournaments this week.
(July 15 Update: Arvidsson posted rounds of 75-84 at Royal Troon and missed the 36-hole cut.)
