Graeme McDowell faced an uphill task to play his way into the US Open at Oakmont when the weather-delayed Emerald Dunes Qualifier resumed in Florida on Tuesday morning.
Needing to play his final eight holes in at least four-under with just four places up for grabs, the Portrush man could only add one further birdie and it, along with seven pars, saw him finish tied for 16th on -5.
Amateur Frankie Harris along with Justin Hicks and Philip Barbaree Jr finished as co-medalists on -11, and the final place would be decided between Austen Truslow and Luke Poulter, son of European Ryder Cup legend Ian.
Poulter, who suffered a fractured back this time last year, would’ve been a headline competitor given his impressive effort to get back to full fitness and into competitive shape, but it wasn’t to be, and Truslow secured the final place in the USGA’s showpiece event at Oakmont.
Elsewhere, the qualifier at Valenica Golf Club in Southern California returned for a two-for-one playoff between Lucas Carper and Joey Herrera. Further heartbreak awaited Carper, who missed a three-and-a-half-footer for birdie on the 36th hole, and Herrera secured the fourth and final place here after amateur Preston Summerhays had secured medalist position.
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