Swede Alex Noren and Scot Marc Warren finished top of the pile in the US Open Championship Qualifier at Walton Heath Golf Club, where Italian sensation Matteo Manassero was one of four players to emerge from a nail-biting play-off for the final places.
Noren, who will defend his ISPS Handa Wales Open title this week, and Warren, whose afternoon round of 65 on the New Course was the lowest of the day, cruised through the Qualifier on nine under par, two shots clear of their nearest rivals.
England’s Lee Slattery, Frenchman Grégory Bourdy, Finn Mikko Ilonen, South African George Coetzee and Dane Søren Kjeldsen made up the remaining automatic qualifiers on seven under par, meaning that five players on six under par had to return to the course to battle it out for the final four berths.
After a brace of birdies at the first extra hole, European Tour rookie Matthew Baldwin of England and Manassero were the first players to book their places for the Olympic Club in San Francisco, where Baldwin will be making his US Open Championship debut.
That left Korean Sihwan Kim, Frenchman Raphaël Jacquelin and Ireland’s Peter Lawrie to fight for the two remaining spots on the second extra hole, and it was Challenge Tour Member Kim who fell by the wayside after failing to get up and down for par from the greenside bunker.
However, as the first alternate Kim could still, in the event of withdrawals, tee up at the second Major of the 2012 season, which will be held from June 14-17.
Two-time European Tour champion Warren is guaranteed his place, and is relishing the prospect of competing in his maiden Major.
He said: “There were a lot of highlights today, I actually burned the edge of the hole quite a few times so I could’ve gone even lower than nine under, but I’ll certainly take it. The way I played at Wentworth last week gave me confidence to take into this week, then my round this morning was another big step in the right direction, and a 65 in the second round was better than I could have imagined.
“It’ll be my Major debut, so I can’t wait to get out there. I think I’ll need to get a new lob wedge with new grooves in the bag, because the greens are going to be very firm and the rough’s going to be up. I spoke to Gareth Maybin last week, and he told me the course is pretty brutal. But I’m really looking forward to it. I’m sure I’ll enjoy the experience, and if I can take the mindset I had today into the tournament, hopefully I can give a good account of myself.”
Noren will be making his second US Open Championship appearance, having successfully qualified at Walton Heath 12 months ago, and the Swede is determined to improve on his tied 51st finish at Congressional Country Club last year.
He said: “I’m very happy. I was really tired this morning after Wentworth last week, but now I feel a lot better. I managed to keep the ball in play all day, which is key because if you don’t, you’re going to get punished. So I’m really pleased with my driving.
“When I qualified here last year, it really turned my season around because I won in Wales the week after. I’ve always wanted to play the US Open, and it really spurred me on for the rest of the season. Hopefully this year will be the same.”
Manassero also made his US Open Championship debut last year, and after securing a second appearance the young Italian is keen to enhance his burgeoning reputation.
He said: “It feels great, especially to do it with a birdie in the play-off. There was a lot of tension, because there was so much to play for. So it means a lot to me to get my place, and I’m really looking forward to going back to play in America.
“It should be a great experience, and I’ve heard really good things about the course. There are lots of World Ranking points available, so hopefully I can play well and climb the Rankings and The Race to Dubai. Everybody wants to play in the big tournaments, and they don’t come much bigger than the US Open. I can’t wait.”
Despite highly encouraging morning displays, Colin Montgomerie and José María Olazábal, Ryder Cup Captains past and present, will not be making the trip to San Francisco after carding respective afternoon rounds of 72 and 74.
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