J.J. Henry, a Fort Worth resident and former TCU golfer, secured a berth in next week’s U.S. Open by finishing in a tie for ninth at today’s sectional qualifier in Memphis, Tenn.
Henry, 35, posted rounds of 69-66 to reach 7-under par and become one of 12 golfers who punched his ticket to compete June 17-20 at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif. Henry will be making his sixth appearance at the U.S. Open. His best finish was a tie for 26th in 20007.
Six other golfers with Tarrant County connections fell short in the Memphis qualifier, with Colleyville residents Ryan Palmer (5-under) and Chad Campbell (5-under) missing out on a playoff by one stroke. Also missing out on the Open were Westlake resident Todd Hamilton (4-under), former Mansfield High School golfer Martin Flores (3-under), Colleyville resident Greg Chalmers and Hurst resident Jerod Turner. Chalmers and Turner withdrew after their opening rounds.
Jordan Spieth, a Dallas teenager who finished in a tie for 16th at last month’s HP Byron Nelson Championship, finished 2-under in Memphis qualifier and failed to advance.
In other qualifiers, Tom Lehman _ winner of last month’s Senior PGA Championship _ wrapped up a berth in the U.S. Open by posting a 9-under total in Columbus, Ohio. Lehman, 51, tied for fourth at the qualifier won by Eric Axley (17-under). Brian Davis, runner-up at last month’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, fired a 9-under total to claim medalist honors at the qualifier in Springfield, Ohio.
_ Jimmy Burch
Comments