June 10, 2011
Friends Pinckney, McIlroy Reunite At 2011 U.S. Open (by Jeff Rude, Golfweek.com/June 17, 2011)
Oakmont a success for five qualifiers (Glendale News-Press/June 9, 2011)
Official site of the 111th U.S. Open
Five qualify for U.S. Open (Southern California Golf Association)
TEMPE- Arizona State men's golfer Scott Pinckney received an invitation for the U.S. Open after tying for first in a sectional qualifying round for the major championship held at 6,861-yard Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, Calif. The 111th annual U.S. Open is one of four majors on the PGA Tour and will be held June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.
Pinckney shot a 4-under par 67 in a first round that included seven birdies. He carded a 1-under par 70 in the second and final round of the day to finish at 5-under par 137 (67-70). The senior collected 21 pars and 10 birdies en route to sharing medalist honors in a field of 94 with former New Mexico State golfer Matthew Edwards.
"I'm in shock right now," Pinckney said. "I can't believe it and it's going to be a while until it hits me."
Pinckney appeared in 13 tournaments in the 2010-11 season and posted a career-best 71.89 stroke average. The Anthem, Ariz., native collected a career high in top-10 finishes with five and recorded a career-high 10 rounds in the 60s, including a career-low 66 in the first round of the ASU Thunderbird Invitational. He began the 2011 spring season by placing in four straight top-10's, including finishing in second at the USC Collegiate Invitational. He also tied for sixth at the Amer Ari Invitational, tied for 10th at The Battle at the Beach and tied for ninth at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters.
Pinckney is the fourth Sun Devil to play in a PGA Tour major championship under head coach Randy Lein. Jeff Quinney, who won the U.S. Amateur in 2000, competed in the 2000 Masters, 2001 U.S. Open and 2001 British Open. Chez Reavie participated in the 2002 Masters after winning the 2001 U.S. Public Links Championship and qualified for the 2003 U.S. Open through a sectional tournament. Stephan Gross, the European amateur champion, played in the 2009 British Open.
Four other qualifiers and two alternates also advanced to the 2011 U.S. Open.