Ex-Husker Crick Qualifies for U.S. Open

Former Husker golfer Brandon Crick qualified for the U.S. Open after tying for sixth at the Memphis, Tenn. sectional qualifier on Monday.

Crick earned one of nine spots at Colonial Country Club, finishing with a 5-under-par 138 total over 36 holes. Kevin Sutherland of Sacramento, Calif. turned in the best score at the sectional with 10-under-par 133.

“I’m really happy for Brandon,” Nebraska Head Coach Bill Spangler said. “The Open will not only be a thrill for him but a wonderful experience. I wouldn’t be surprised if he performs very well at Merion.”

Crick started on the South Course of Colonial Country Club, making birdies on Nos. 3, 11, 14 and 16 but suffered bogeys on Holes 4 and 9. The McCook, Neb. native carded a 2-under-par 70 with the performance.

On the North Course, Crick bogeyed the par-3 second hole, but reeled off four consecutive birdies on Holes 5-8 to get into red numbers. Crick bogeyed the par-5 10th hole but birdied the par-3 14th and added seven pars on the back nine en route to a 3-under-par 68.

Crick lettered for Nebraska in 2009 and 2010, winning four individual titles in the process. His 73.32 career stroke average ranks second on NU’s all-time list.

Former Huskers Ryan Lenahan and Judd Cornell also competed in Golf’s Longest Day on Monday but each fell short in their bids for a trip to the U.S. Open. Lenahan produced rounds of 72 and 65 at Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ohio for a 3-under-par 137 total. He missed the qualifying cut by two strokes and will represent the second alternate. Lenahan lettered for the Huskers in 2003 and from 2005 to 2007.

Judd Cornell shot 77 and 75 at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Mo. for a 4-over-par 152 total. He lettered for NU from 2003 to 2006.

Memphis hosted one of 11 U.S. Open sectional qualifiers on Monday. The 113th U.S. Open Championship will take place June 13-16 at the Merion Golf Club East Course in Ardmore, Penn. Complete sectional qualifying results are available on the USGA website at http://www.usopen.com/en_US/news/qualifying/sectional.html.

Colonial Country Club Sectional Qualifying Results
Memphis, Tenn.
June 3, 2013
1. Kevin Sutherland - 66-67 = 133
T-2. Shawn Stefani – 68-66 = 134
T-2. Jerry Kelly – 67-67 = 134
T-4. Morgan Hoffmann – 69-68 = 137
T-4. Joe Ogilvie – 69-68 = 137
T-6. Scott Langley – 71-67 = 138
T-6. Brandon Crick – 70-68 = 138
T-8. Alistair Presnell – 71-68 = 139
T-8. Andrew Svoboda – 66-73 = 139

Alternates
1st. Scott Stallings – 70-69 = 139
2nd. Will Bishop (a) – 69-72 = 141