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UCLA freshman makes field; Singh doesn’t show up

COLUMBUS, Ohio — UCLA freshman Patrick Cantlay made the field for his first U.S. Open, three former U.S. Open champions came up short and Vijay Singh didn’t even try Monday.

Cantlay, who wrapped up a sensational first season that earned him the Jack Nicklaus Award as the top college player, had rounds of 65-70 at two area courses that were filled with PGA Tour players. He was among 16 players who earned spots for the U.S. Open at Congressional, which starts June 16.

Singh didn’t show up for the qualifier, making it likely his streak of 67 consecutive majors played will end. Singh, a three-time major champion who shot 65 in the final round of the Memorial, last missed a major at the 1994 U.S. Open.

Columbus was one of 11 sectional qualifiers across the country, all of them 36 holes for precious few spots in the U.S. Open, the one major in which half the field is open to anyone willing to try.

Sam Saunders, the grandson for Arnold Palmer, made it through a qualifier in Florida, while Fred Funk qualified in Maryland. Funk, 54, is a former golf coach at Maryland.

Jones, who made it through sectional qualifying in 1996 and went on to win at Oakland Hills, missed out on a playoff by four shots. Tom Kite, the 1992 winner at Pebble Beach, failed to qualify in Dallas, while two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen just missed in Tennessee.

Brandt Jobe, a runner-up by one shot at the Memorial on Sunday, joined Chez Reavie as co-medalists in Columbus. Reavie had knee surgery a year ago and will be in his third U.S. Open. He was an amateur in the other two.

Others who qualified in Columbus were Robert Garrigus, Marc Turnesa, John Senden, D.A. Points, Marc Leishman, Kevin Chappell, Adam Long, Justin Hicks, Nick O’Hern and Chris Wilson. Tim Petrovic, Scott Hend and Webb Simpson were part of a six-man playoff for three spots. Among those who got bumped out of the playoff were former Ryder Cup players J.J. Henry and Brett Wetterich.

Others who failed to earn spots out of Columbus were former British Open champions David Duval and Ben Curtis, Rocco Mediate, Sean O’Hair and Bob Hope winner Jhonattan Vegas.

This was the second time in three years that Funk has qualified. Among the other nine players who qualified in Rockville, Md., were Ty Tryon, three-time tour winner Kirk Triplett and former U.S. Amateur champion Bubba Dickerson.