Ohio, June 10: Stewart Cink made 22 birdies and set two course records as he stormed a sectional qualifier in Ohio for next week's US Open championship at Olympia Fields. After bogeying the first of his 36 qualifying holes on Monday, Cink feared an early disappointment. But rounds of 62 and 61 ensured he finished a remarkable nine strokes ahead of anyone else.
"I've played some good rounds before, but that was kind of ridiculous," he said.
Mark Calcavecchia, Bob Tway and Jesper Parnevik of Sweden were among other PGA Tour pros who earned a trip to Illinois next week.
They were joined by Australia's Geoff Ogilvy, South African Rory Sabbatini and New Zealand's David Smail.
Tom Lehman withdrew from the qualifier and will miss the US Open for the first time in 11 years.
He is the only man to have played in the final group at the event four consecutive years, from 1995 to 1998.
Most of the PGA Tour players were in Ohio, just down the street from the Memorial, where 100 players went after 20 spots.
At North Shore Country Club in Glenview, Illinois, American Bryce Molder and England's Brian Davis led qualifying with eight-under 134 scores.
Chad Campbell, a 29-year-old Texan with five top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this year, earned the only spot available at the Cleveland, Ohio, qualifier with a five-under 139. Bureau Report