Vasel, Rosenfeld share U.S. Open medal
Six golfers advance to Sectional Qualifying,
including local amateurs Ross Millman and John Anderson
Madison, Ill. - Ky
le Vasel of Greenville, Ill., and Matthew Rosenfeld of Plano, Texas, didn’t know each other until Wednesday. The co-medalists of the local qualifying for the 108th United States Open had more in common than their matching even-par 71s at Gateway National Golf Links.
After congratulating each other, the two Hooters Tour golfers headed for their cars. “Are you headed for Lexington next?” Rosenfeld said. “About 4 ½ hours, I figure. See you there.”
Each had come from an event in South Bend, Ind., prior to Tuesday and was off to Kentucky by midday on Wednesday. In between, the two patiently waded through a field of 88 other golfers as well as rain, wind and interruptions due to lightning.
Vasel and Rosenfeld advance to next month’s U.S. Open sectional round, as did four others who shot 3-over 74s – former U.S. Amateur runner-up John Kelly, Tower Tee’s Bob Gaus, University of Michigan golfer Ross Millman, and St. Louis amateur John Anderson.
Tour player Trevor Dodds of Kirkwood also posted a 74 on Tuesday, but was unavailable on Wednesday for a playoff. His absence meant the other 74s advanced and Dodds became the first alternate.
Westwood assistant professional Brett Staskewicz and Webster Groves amateur Patrick Riordan each posted 75s. Staskewicz earned the second alternate spot.
Rosenfeld, who was able to compete his round on Tuesday before the suspension, thought he needed two birdies in his final three holes in order to have a chance of advancing to the Sectional round of qualifying.
“I was three over par and thinking I needed to make something happen,” the 25-year-old former U.S. Junior Amateur champion said. “I had 107 yards to the hole (at No. 16) which is a perfect distance for my sand wedge. It kind of took a funny hop on the green and from where I was standing, it looked like it jumped over the green.”
But on closer inspection, Rosenfeld barely saw that his approach spun back toward and then into the hole for an eagle 2. “Now, all of a sudden, I feel like I’m right back in the mix,” he added.
A birdie at Gateway’s par-5 18th not only helped him advance, he got a share of first.
Vasel had to return Wednesday morning to complete his round. A birdie at the par-5 13th and another, a birdie 2 at the 238-yard 14th, helped him get to 1-under par. He dropped one shot coming in to finish at even and tied for first.
Tuesdays three interruptions due to lightning forced the withdrawal of a number of players in the field, including Chesterfield’s Jay Delsing.
The final outcome of playoff spots wasn’t finalized until the final putt of the day. Anderson, an information technology executive, birdied the par-3 17th, and then curled in a 12-foot birdie putt at 18 to post a 74 and a spot in the field at Boone Valley.