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| Russell Henley will play in the U.S. Open next week at Congressional Country Club |
Russell Henley birdied two of his final holes during a grueling 36-hole day to earn a tie atop the leaderboard at the U.S. Open sectional qualifier Monday at Hawk’s Ridge Golf Club. After players in the final two groups passed him, the 22-year-old found out he had a little work left to do and landed in a sudden-death playoff with PGA Tour professional Jason Dufner for the third and final qualifying spot in the U.S. Open.
Henley survived the challenge, however, with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole after Dufner hit his second shot on the par-5 hole into the water, and Henley earned a return trip to the U.S. Open, which begins June 16 at Congressional Country Club outside of Washington, D.C.
“I’m really excited to get back to another U.S. Open,” Henley said with just a few minutes of daylight left. “It was an emotional day, but it feels good to get back.”
Henley played 40 holes in nearly 12 hours when Dufner hit his approach into the par-5 fourth hole into the water right of the green. Henley played his second shot safe, but the ball ended up in deep rough left of the green. He hit what he called “one of the best chips of my life” to about 3 feet of the hole. Dufner missed his par putt, but Henley knocked in his birdie anyway. He shared a long embrace with Adam Henley, his caddie, after he clinched the spot in the U.S. Open.
“We just went through a lot of emotions (Monday),” Adam Henley said. “It feels pretty sweet right now.”
Many of the officials felt Russell Henley and Dufner wouldn’t need a playoff to qualify.
The two were tied atop the leaderboard when they finished 36 holes. Henley birdied two of his final three holes to finish at 11 under. Most thought Ryan Nelson, who was at 10 under through 27 holes, was the only player on the course with a shot to qualify.
Nelson indeed qualified at 12 under.
Henley received congratulatory hugs, handshakes and high-fives after he finished his round and after Nelson finished.
Playing in the final group, amateur Brett Patterson shot a course-record 62 to finish the day at 12 under and nab a spot. Patterson’s score bumped Dufner and Henley into a playoff.
“Everyone, the head pro, tournament officials are telling me I’m fine,” Henley said. “You start to rest, and then you find out it’s not over. You have to refocus fast. It’s tough to do.”
Both Henley and Dufner made a par on the first three holes of sudden death. Henley had a long birdie putt on No. 2 to win, and Dufner had about a 12-foot birdie attempt on No. 3 that would have earned him the spot.
“Russell thinks he’s one of the best amateurs and players in the world, so I don’t think he struggled to get back ready,” Adam Henley said. “I was a little nervous.”
Russell Henley finished the day with rounds of 68 and 65.
Henley shot a 4-under-par 68 through his first 18. His putter got hot on the second 18. He was 3 under through nine holes and birdied three in a row early in his second nine. He left an eagle putt on No. 4 a few inches short and then made a bogey on No. 6 when he hit it in the water trying to drive the green.
“I probably would have thought back to those if I wouldn’t have made it,” he said. “The bogey shook me up a little.”
Henley bounced back with a 15-foot birdie on No. 7, and he then made a birdie from about 3 feet on his 36th hole of the day.
“Those turned out to be huge putts,” he said.
The top three finishers out of 41 players qualified for the U.S. Open.
Henley won his qualifier a year ago and went on to finish tied for 16th at the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. The finish earned him low amateur honors.
