European Tour Members Alex Cejka and Kevin Stadler were among 14 qualifiers who progressed through International Final Qualifying (IFQ) - America for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale from July 17-20.
A total of 94 players teed off on two different courses in suburban Detroit, Michigan in hopes of gaining one of the fourteen starting places for the season’s third Major Championships.
Americans Paul Goydos and Jeff Overton led the qualifiers. Goydos, a playoff runner-up to Spain’s Sergio Garcia at The Players Championship, posted rounds of 65-66 to finish at 13 under par and gain medalist honors at Dearborn Country Club. For Goydos, who turned 44 just ten days ago, it will be his first start in The Open Championship in his 16th year on the US PGA Tour.
“This was my number one goal for the year,” he said. “If nothing else happened this year, I wanted to play in The Open. A lot of other good things have happened on top of that, but this really has been my number one goal.”
Overton ran away from the field of 48 at TPC Michigan, shooting scores of 63, 67 for a 14 under par total, six shots better than John Rollins. Tim Petrovic and Matt Kuchar finished at seven under and gained spots at Royal Birkdale.
Germany’s Cejka was the only non-American to win one of the fourteen starting berths. His rounds of 68, 69 at TPC were good enough to qualify him without having to face a play-off.
Results
Dearborn Country Club
GOYDOS, Paul USA 65 66 131 -13 Qualified
LETZIG, Michael USA 67 66 133 -11 Qualified
LABELLE II, Doug USA 68 66 134 -10 Qualified
BEEM, Rich USA 36 67 68 135 -9 Qualified
BARLOW, Craig USA 36 66 69 135 -9 Qualified
STADLER, Kevin USA 36 69 66 135 -9 Qualified
LOVE III, Davis USA 36 67 68 135 -9 Qualified
Lost in play off
STEEL, Iain Malaysia 36 72 63 135 -9
TPC Michigan
OVERTON, Jeff USA 63 67 130 -14 Qualified
ROLLINS, John USA 67 69 136 -8 Qualified
PETROVIC, Tim USA 67 70 137 -7 Qualified
KUCHAR, Matt USA 69 68 137 -7 Qualified
CEJKA, Alex Germany 68 69 137 -7 Qualified
MCCARRON, Scott USA 71 67 138 -6 Qualified
GILLIS, Thomas USA 71 68 139 -5 Qualified
Lost in play off
PERNICE JR, Tom USA 66 73 139 -5
JACOBSON, Fredrik Sweden 71 68 139 -5
LEE, Danny (A) New Zealand 67 72 139 -5
BERTSCH, Shane USA 71 68 139 -5
Full results are available at Opengolf.com
