US OPEN QUALIFYING:SHANE LOWRY comfortably earned a ticket to the US Open at Congressional in a fortnight after making it through yesterday's final international qualifying at Walton Heath in England.
The former Irish Open champion grabbed one of the 11 slots on offer after finishing on eight under after rounds of 69 and 67. That left him in a tie for second with Maarten Lafeber, two shots behind leading qualifier Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium.
The 24-year-old Lowry is making a habit of shining in qualifying events. He shot 62 at Sunningdale last year to earn a place in the British Open at St Andrews.
Lowry carried the momentum from Wentworth – where he finished tied-fourth in the PGA Championship on Sunday – with him to Walton Heath.
Unfortunately for Gary Murphy, his chances of winning place in the field faded after an opening round 76 on the Old Course and, although he improved with a 71 on the New Course it was not enough.
The cut fell on four under par 140 with Sweden’s Johan Edfors taking the last place following a play-off with Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and Denmark’s Andreas Harto (Den).
Colin Montgomerie failed to qualify for a return to Congressional – the course where he was runner-up to Ernie Els in 1997.
Boosted by his seventh-place in at Wentworth – his first top-10 finish for almost three years – Montgomerie managed only a one-over-par total of 145.
Now he will have to be content with a television commentating role rather than a playing one in Washington in two weeks’ time.
Last year’s Ryder Cup captain knew his fate from an early stage. “If you don’t enter you can’t win – I gave it a go,” said the Scot after following an opening 72 with a second round 73 played mostly in rain. “That’s hard work – it was miserable out there.”
Still in with a chance at level par with two par fives to come, the 47-year-old failed to birdie either the 14th or 16th and in between had one of seven three-putts during the day.
Also out on one over went Ross Fisher, but two years after finishing fifth in the US Open he still has a chance of making it. Fisher stands 52nd in the world and the top-50 at the end of next week receive invitations.
QUALIFIERS:(British unless stated, par 72): 135 Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel) 64 71 136 Shane Lowry (Ire) 69 67, Maarten Lafeber (Ned) 73 63 137 Thomas Levet (Fra) 66 71 138 Robert Rock 70 68, David Howell 72 66 139 Stephen Gallacher 70 69, Alexander Noren (Swe) 67 72, Marcel Siem (Ger) 67 72, Robert Dinwiddie 69 70 140 (after a play-off) Johan Edfors (Swe) 70 70.
