Sometimes, perseverance pays off.
When the first Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifier for 2017 was held May 8 at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster, three players shot 73, which ended up being a tie for seventh place.
With the top five finishers advancing to the second and final stage of U.S. Open Qualifying — the 36-hole Sectionals, set for June 5 at 10 sites in the U.S. — and two alternates being needed, Daniel Pearson was one of three players who should have played off for the second alternate spot. But the Longmont resident who recently graduated from Fairview High School in Boulder was the only one of the three who stuck around to the end after a day that featured two lightning delays totaling more than 2 1/2 hours.
Second alternates in USGA qualifying tournaments rarely end up getting the call to actually advance, but in this case, Pearson did.
After Golden’s Chris Thayer, who shot 71, withdrew from Sectionals, first alternate Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield got called up. Then this week, Lindstrom found out that some work-related issues would preclude him from competing in Sectionals, so Pearson (pictured) was the next man up.
The University of Nebraska golf signee will be one of at least 16 Colorado residents who will compete in Sectionals on June 5, with the top finishers at those 10 tournaments realizing a dream of qualifying for the U.S. Open, which this year is set for June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.
Other Coloradans who have punched their tickets to Sectionals include Jason Preeo of Highlands Ranch, Parker Edens of Greeley, Hunter Paugh of Fort Collins, David Oraee of Greeley, Zahkai Brown of Golden, Josh Seiple of Castle Rock, Jake Staiano of Englewood, Pat Grady of Denver, Rich Lash of Denver, Jackson Solem of Longmont, Jacob Lestishen of Lone Tree, Ross Macdonald of Castle Pines, Andy Connell of Denver, PGA Tour player Shane Bertsch of Parker and Greg Condon of Monte Vista.
Pearson, runner-up in last year’s Colorado Junior Amateur, will be the second 2016 Colorado Junior America’s Cup player to make Sectionals, joining fellow Longmont resident Solem.
So the moral of the story may be, there is hope for second alternates in USGA qualifying tournaments after all. And, as a corollary, sticking around for second-alternate playoffs may be worthwhile.
