Block misses US Open qualifying

American golfer Michael Block at the 2023 US PGA Championship
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The feel-good story of the PGA Championship won’t get an encore at the U.S. Open.

Michael Block, the 46-year-old club professional who tied for 15th last month at Oak Hill Country Club, narrowly missed out on making the field for this month’s major championship at Los Angeles Country Club.

Competing in a 36-hole qualifier in Toronto, Block finished sixth of 27 players but needed to make the top three to earn his spot in the U.S. Open.

Block shot rounds of 69 and 66 to go 5 under at Lambton Golf & Country Club, according to the USGA’s website. That was two spots out of the third and final guaranteed place, and one shot behind Harry Hall of England and Jimmy Walker, two PGA Tour players who were named alternates.

Ryan Gerard was the site’s medalist at 11 under (63-66). Vincent Norrman of Sweden (69-63) and Ryan Armour (66-67) grabbed the second and third spots.

Block still finished better than PGA Tour players Harry Higgs, Richy Werenski and Englishman Callum Tarren.

Block, the head pro at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Calif., moved his entry from the Los Angeles-area qualifier to Toronto because he received a sponsor’s exemption to compete in the RBC Canadian Open later this week.

Block’s 18-year-old son, amateur Dylan Block, also reached the final round of U.S. Open qualifying but will not make it. The younger Block opened with a 10-over 81 at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles and was even for his round with four holes to go.

The largest qualifier took place in Columbus, Ohio, given that the PGA Tour was in the area for the Memorial Tournament last weekend. Olin Browne Jr., the 34-year-old son of former PGA Tour winner Olin Browne, beat out 102 other golfers for medalist honors at 11 under (66-67).

Stewart Cink, who turned 50 last month, earned his way into the major with a 68-67 showing. He was part of a large tie for third at 9 under. Other PGA Tour players advancing from Columbus included Davis Thompson, Eric Cole, Luke List and Patrick Rodgers.

Kevin Streelman and two amateurs, Nick Dunlap of Alabama and David Nyfjall of Sweden, qualified out of a four-for-three playoff, with 2009 U.S. Open champ Lucas Glover being the odd man out.

Canada’s Taylor Pendrith made the field by finishing second at his qualifier in Springfield, Ohio.

Cameron Kuchar, the 15-year-old son of PGA Tour veteran Matt Kuchar, did not qualify after shooting 76-76 at his qualifier in Boynton Beach, Fla.

Jesse Schutte of Oregon and Hong Kong amateur Alexander Yang grabbed the two qualifying spots in Lakewood, Wash.

The “longest day” will carry into a second day, as the final qualifying berths at Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles still must be determined. Three players — PGA Tour regular Charley Hoffman, Josh Anderson and amateur Preston Summerhays — will compete for two U.S. Open berths. Three other players already booked their spots from Hillcrest, including LIV Golf’s David Puig of Spain.

-Field Level Media