U.S. Open Sectional Qualifiers

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Arkansas Razorback men’s golf team had four players on the course on Monday seeking placement in the 2010 U.S. Open Tournament field, but it was a former Razorback legend that made the cut this season through sectional qualifying.

Deanne Pappas, a Razorback from 1989-92, finished tied for third at the Memphis qualifier and was one of 10 qualifiers on Monday from the Germantown Country Club and Ridgeway Country Club site. Pappas shot 133, one stroke off the pace of the co-champions, tying with two others and earning his way to the U.S. Open Championship and his second tournament on the PGA Tour this season.

Senior David Lingmerth, who capped a tremendous career with the Razorbacks just weeks ago at the NCAA Regional Championships, finished four strokes off the pace at the St. Louis sectional, shooting 136 in his two rounds. Opening with a 69, Lingmerth shot 67 in his second round at the Country Club of St. Albans, but could not overcome Scott Langley’s back-to-back rounds of 66.

Fellow senior Dalton Owens also played well in St. Louis at the qualifier, but the Mount Vernon, Mo., native endured a rough second 18 holes, shooting 67-74 for a 36-hole score of 142. Owens was Arkansas’ No. 2 player at the NCAA Regional Championship as well as at the Southeastern Conference Championships this spring.

Playing in the Memphis sectional, against Pappas and 118 others, junior Jamie Marshall was the third best amateur on the course as he rebounded from a tough opening 71 to shoot 67 on his final 18 and compile a two-round score of 138, two shots off the score needed to qualify for the U.S. Open. Marshall returns to Arkansas next season as the Razorbacks’ leading player in terms of stroke average from this season and was the Hogs No. 2 player all year behind Lingmerth.

In Springfield, Ohio, sophomore Ethan Tracy was five strokes off the pace, shooting 140 (71-69) to tie for 19th place. Tracy had an up-and-down season for the Razorbacks, but played in 11 tournaments and averaged 74.55 over 29 rounds.

Several Razorbacks will continue to play throughout the summer months until they return to campus for the 2010-11 season.