Van Pelt, Streb, Mabrey qualify for U.S. Open
See complete results from all Sectionals here.
Former Edmond golfer Robert Streb and Tulsan Bo Van Pelt were among the 15 golfers who earned spots in the 2015 U.S. Open through Sectional Qualifying Monday in central Ohio.
Van Pelt shot 9-under to tie for seventh while Streb shot 7-under to tie for 13th and then survived a playoff to earn his spot. The golfers played 18 holes at The Lakes in Westerville and 18 holes at Brookside Golf & Country Club.
Many big names on the PGA Tour failed to advance. Golfers of local interest who did not qualify included Kevin Tway of Edmond, OSU golfer Jordan Niebrugge and Phillip Bryan of Oklahoma City.
A 5-for-3 playoff among five PGA Tour players settled the final spots and alternate positions. Streb, D.A. Points and Danny Lee, the 2008 U.S. Amateur champion, advanced with pars on each of the three extra holes. Kevin Chappell was relegated to first alternate when he three-putted the third hole for bogey in virtual darkness. Alex Cejka was eliminated on the first playoff hole after taking five strokes to reach the green and didn’t finish.
Streb finished tied for 19th Sunday in The Memorial in Dublin, his third consecutive top 20 finish on the PGA Tour including The Colonial and the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow. Unofficially, he is the only PGA Tour golfer to finish in the top 20 in his last three starts with the exception of Rory McIlroy, who has missed consecutive cuts in Europe but has four consecutive top-10s and two wins in his last four U.S. events.
In other sectional events, University of Tulsa senior golfer Matt Mabrey, who just concluded his amateur career at TU, was one of six to advance at Northwood Club in Dallas after consecutive rounds of 67. Not advancing in Dallas were Oak Tree resident Scott Verplank of Edmond, former OU golfers Hunter Haas and Martin Flores, current OU golfer Max McGreevy, future OU golfer Brad Dalke, former Oklahoma City University golfer Josh Creel and Rhein Gibson of Edmond.
Former Tulsan Brad Elder tied for first at 9-under in the Memphis Sectional and was one of nine golfers to advance. Among those not making the field were former OU golfer Abraham Ancer, former OSU golfer Casey Wittenberg and current OSU golfer Zachary Olsen