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Owls' Matthews falls short in U.S. Open qualifier

Temple star Brandon Matthews, who was an alternate for last year's U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, tried to take the extra step to the national championship but was let down Monday by his putter.

Temple's Brandon Matthews. (Photo credit: Curt Hudson)
Temple's Brandon Matthews. (Photo credit: Curt Hudson)Read more

Temple star Brandon Matthews, who was an alternate for last year's U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, tried to take the extra step to the national championship but was let down Monday by his putter.

Matthews was one of 15 Philadelphia-area players who competed in 36-hole sectional qualifying for next week's U.S. Open, but like the others, he fell short of a trip to Pinehurst (N.C.) No. 2.

Playing in Purchase, N.Y., Matthews fired rounds of 2-over-par 72 at Old Oaks Country Club and par 71 at Century Country Club, but his 143 total was 2 strokes higher than the score posted by the fourth and final qualifier.

"I hit the ball great for the most part all day," Matthews, who is entering his junior year at Temple, said in a telephone interview. "I hit a lot of good iron shots. But I had five three-putts and I didn't really make too many birdie putts from outside of three feet."

The longest of the five birdie putts Matthews made all day was a 20-footer. He made one five-footer, two from inside five feet, and one tap-in for a two-putt birdie on a par 5, he said.

PGA Tour player Sean O'Hair, of West Chester, attempted to qualify in Columbus, Ohio, where most of the contestants were from the tour. But after carding a 5-over 75 in the morning, O'Hair withdrew before his afternoon round.

In a text message, O'Hair said he was not injured but decided to leave early to put in extra work on his game heading into this week's tour stop in Memphis.

Michael Tobiason Jr., a mini-tour pro from Wilmington who played in the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional, shot 76-70 in Rockville, Md., and missed the qualifying score by 5 strokes.

Justin Martinson of Avondale, a former Philadelphia Amateur winner who has turned pro, shot the low round of the afternoon in Roswell, Ga., a 3-under-par 69, but also missed the number by 5.

Former Temple star Geoffrey Sisk, who last year at Merion qualified for the Open through local and sectional qualifying for the sixth time, fell short Monday with rounds of 78 and 75 in Purchase.

Purchase, N.Y.: Alexander Hicks, Cape May Court House, 151; Michael Johnson, Ambler, 151; Michael Kania, Haverford, 152; Andrew Mason, Huntingdon Valley, 156; Zachary Herr, New Hope, 159; Sean Szerencsits, Coplay, Pa., 168.

Rockville, Md.: J.D. Dornes, Lancaster, 152; Brian Hollins, Delran, N.J., 158; Thomas Timby, Doylestown, 159; Mark Hill, Media, 168.

Springfield, Ohio: James Braunsberg, Plymouth Meeting, 157.