Tim Wilkinson has joined Ryan Fox by qualifying for the 118th US Open Championship after finishing second at the sectional qualifier at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland.
He shot 68-70 to finish six-under par, highlighted by a spectacular hole-in-one on the sixth hole during his second round. It launched him inside the all-important top four who booked their tickets to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club next week.
Eleven venues hosted 36-hole sectional qualifiers overnight: one at London’s Walton Heath (where Fox qualified) and 10 venues in the US, for what is essentially the last opportunity for more than 800 players to secure one of the 71 remaining places available.
This is the second time in three years that Wilkinson has qualified for the year’s second Major. After losing his US PGA Tour card, this is a huge boost for the Manawatu professional who will be looking to make the most of the opportunity on the big stage.
It comes as a surprise for the Kiwi who missed the cut on the Web.com Tour last weekend. But the 39-year-old cast aside that disappointment just 24 hours later and will now tee it up with the world’s best as he looks to join 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell in the history books.