US Open Local Qualifying #2 - TPC Twin Cities

On paper, TPC Twin Cities appeared to be the more difficult of the two US Open Local Qualifying courses (The Links at Northfork being the other). After all, it hosts annually the 3M Championship, a Champions Tour stop, and has hosted the 2006 MGA Players' Championship as well as previous US Open Local Qualifying events. But, even with a challenging set-up - the course measuring over 7,000 yards and some "Sunday" hole locations - many players had their way during Monday's second US Open Local Qualifying.

Perfect weather (in the morning) offered great scoring opportunities as 20 players recorded sub-par rounds. Although, in the end, even 69 wasn't good enough. Five players, lead by co-medalists Andrew Rauscher of Rancho Mirage, CA, and Jay Jurecic of Crystal Falls, MN, earned the right to advance to the 36-hole Sectional Qualifying. Rauscher and Jurecic both returned five-under par 67s. Interestingly, Rauscher had never seen the course before recording nine (yes, 9!) birdies.

Also earning the right to advance with scores of 68 were Chris Borgen (Eagan, MN), former Gopher Josh Persons (Fargo, ND) and current Gopher Victor Almstrom. Ryan Conn was declared the first alternate after his 69 tied him with another former Gopher Bronson La'Cassie, but La'Cassie was not present at the end for the playoff.

In the group of five players at 70 was former Gopher and new professional Clayton Rask. The 2007 MGA Men's Player of the Year turned professional at the qualifying after failing to make it to the NCAA Division I Championship. His 70 included nine birdies and a triple bogey.

To view all of the scores from the TPC qualifying, click here.

Coming up, the MGA-PGA Cup Matches on Tuesday (May 27) at Somerby GC in Byron.

Until the next time-

Doug