Nick Rousey, Rochester’s Merkulov, Lead the Way in U.S. Open Local Qualifying

Nicklos Rousey, a PGA Club Professional from Bentonville, Arkansas, posted a 2-under-par 70 to earn medalist honors, as well as secure one of the two spots available to advance to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying. Rousey lost a playoff in last year’s U.S. Open Local Qualifier at Ravenwood and returned to Rochester again this year.

 

Two players tied for second place with scores of 1-under 71 – Shawn Colella of Marcellus and Yaroslav Merkulov of Penfield – with the pair going to a playoff to determine the second qualifying position. Merkulov, who recently had his status as an amateur restored after several years as a tour professional, parred the second hole of the playoff to earn the second qualifying spot.

 

After losing the playoff, Colella took the First Alternate spot, with fourth place finisher Chris Malec of Webster earning the Second Alternate position.

 

During the round, one competitor – Locust Hill Country Club’s Kyle Downey – scored his first ever hole-in-one, on the 177-yard, par-3 eighth hole. Downey eventually finished in a tie for 6th place with a 74.

 

The top two golfers – Rousey and Merkulov – both qualified to advance to the Sectional Qualifying Round of the U.S. Open, which begins on May 20 and concludes on June 5. If they survive those qualifiers, they will advance to the 2019 U.S. Open.