Parkersburg Country Club, pictured here, is hosting a local qualifier for the US Open at 10 a.m. next Monday in Vienna. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)
VIENNA – Parkersburg Country Club is one location where visions of competing at this summer’s US Open in Los Angeles could come true.
Next Monday, 67 golfers will compete in the US Open Home Qualifier at Parkersburg Country Club seeking to win one of four shows that advance to the final qualifying stage.
First tee times are set at 10 a.m. for both Tee No. 1 and Tee No. 1. 10.
“There’s nothing else like it – it’s so wonderful to host as part of a major golf tournament,” said PCC golf pro Adam Chesnut. “As long as I’ve been here, Parkersburg Country Club hasn’t hosted any US Open domestic qualifiers. If it does, it’s few and far between. I’m excited to see what kind of players and names we get.
“Our course supervisor has this place ready to run. He and his staff have set it up exactly the way they want it.”
Parkersburg Country Club has hosted USGA local qualifiers such as Mid-Amateur and Senior Amateur. Monday’s event is at the top of the list.
“Parkersburg Country Club is clearly one of the best golf courses in West Virginia,” said Chris Slack, who became WVGA’s interim CEO several weeks ago. “We’ve been doing local qualifiers at Pete Dye Golf Club for a very long time and it’s been three or four years since we hosted one at Stonewall Resort. Last year, it was at The Pines.
“In the 12 years I’ve been with (the WVGA), I don’t recall ever having one at Parkersburg Country Club. The whole layout there is fantastic. What really sets the course apart at Parkersburg are the greens. They always have some of the best in the state. And the tight fairways are definitely a test for championship golf.” “.
Amateurs with a handicap not exceeding 1.4 are eligible to compete in the local qualifiers. Last year, local qualifying sites saw 9,265 entries. This year’s total participation of 10,187 surpassed the previous record of 10,127 in 2014.
The Local Qualifiers will run from April 17th to May 22nd at 109 locations across 44 US states and Canada. The dates for the final qualifying stage are May 16 in England, May 22 in Japan and Texas, and June 5 in Canada and nine US locations.
The US Open (June 15-18) returns to Los Angeles for the first time in 75 years. Ben Hogan won the title that year – the first of his four US Open titles.
Two of the notable names representing West Virginia in the field on Monday are Woody Woodward (Bridgeport) and Phillip Reali (Hurricane).
“With our membership, getting to host a local qualifier is very interesting,” Chestnut said. Lots of organic like, “Wow! We will actually host domestic qualifiers at the US Open. There is a lot of excitement out there.
“I would like to become more competitive myself so that I can do that.”
Contact Kerry Patrick at [email protected]