Deon Germishuys wins U.S. Open Final Qualifying as seven secure spots

Deon Germishuys will mark his rookie season on the DP World Tour by making his Major Championship debut at next month’s U.S. Open after winning Final Qualifying at Walton Heath Golf Club.

The South African, who graduated from the European Challenge Tour last year by finishing 20th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, followed an opening six-under 66 with a 68 to post a ten under total.

That saw him finish one stroke clear of countryman Wilco Nienaber, 2010 Ryder Cup player Ross Fisher and four-time DP World Tour winner David Horsey.

Also sealing one of the seven spots on offer into the field at Los Angeles Country Club were Sweden’s Jens Dantorp, Alejandro Del Rey of Spain and France’s Matthieu Pavon, who has now qualified for the U.S. Open via Final Qualifying at Walton Heath for the third time.

The 36-hole qualifying event was taking place at the Surrey venue for the first time since 2019, with a field of 84 players competing.

Playing on the New Course in the morning, Germishuys made five birdies in his opening eight holes before back-to-back bogeys around the turn set him back.

But the 24-year-old bounced back with an eagle at the par-five 13th before a further birdie saw him post a 66.

After a steady start on the Old Course in afternoon, he came to life on the back nine with four birdies in his final seven holes to top the leaderboard.

“It is going to be my first Major so I am really excited for that," Germishuys said.

"I haven’t been to the US in four years so I am excited to go back and play some golf again.”

’Majors are the pinnacle’

Fisher held a share of the lead after a seven-under 65 on the New Course which featured seven birdies and an eagle.

The Englishman said that left him needing to produce a "smart" performance over the Old Course and a two-under 70 proved good enough to secure his berth at the third Major of the year.

“Delighted," reflected Fisher, who has not played at a Major since the US PGA Championship in 2019.

"Majors are the pinnacle for any professional golfer.

"I was very fortunate to experience a lot in my early career and I have missed playing in them.

"I feel like the game is still there. I just feel like I need to put everything together.”

Nienaber, who finished in a tie for second at the Abu Dhabi Challenge last month, will make his second Major appearance after following a 69 with a 66 to also post a nine under total.

"I have definitely been making progress, big improvements in my game," said the South African

"It is quite nice to see that it is starting to pay off.

“You dream about playing in Majors and to have this as my second one is really cool.”

Playing on his own after a late withdrawal, Horsey began with a 70 on the Old Course to leave him needing a low number in his second round of the day to get into the mix for a spot.

And he did just that, mixing six birdies and an eagle in a 65 to earn a long-awaited return to the Major scene after a six-year absence.

"After finding out I was going to be playing on my own all day this morning, I thought this was going to be a bit of a challenge," said the Englishman.

"I paced myself well. I played really nicely this afternoon, birdieing the first three and here we are!

"You have just got to stay patient. Despite it only being a day and 36 holes it does feel like a marathon."

Dantorp narrowly missed out on a maiden DP World Tour title at the Soudal Open at the weekend but the Swede bounced back from that disappointment in style.

A birdie on the 18th on the New Course saw him sneak into the qualifying spots on eight under after a second consecutive 68.

Those scores were matched by Pavon and Qualifying School graduate Del Rey, who was out in the opening group of the day.

Jordan Gumbert of America and Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin secured the two alternate spots on offer following a four-man play-off involving Scotland's Calum Hill and England's Andrew Wilson after the quartet finished the day on seven under.

Further Final Qualifying events for this year's U.S Open will be staged in Japan, USA and Canada over the coming weeks.

The top two aggregate points earners from a Qualifying Series comprising the DS Automobiles Italian Open, Soudal Open, KLM Open and Porsche European Open will also secure spots in Los Angeles.

Exemptions will also be awarded to the top two players from the final 2022 DP World Tour Rankings, who are not otherwise exempt, as of May 22, as well as the top player from the 2023 Race to Dubai rankings, who is not otherwise exempt, on the same date.