GolfNewsRI

Rhode Island’s Tom McCormick advanced to U.S. Open Final Qualifying on Tuesday after carding a three-under 69 to make the cut on the number at Kirkbrae Country Club. 

“Something click on the range. I’ve only played three times this year so I wasn’t expecting much, but something clicked and I played well,” McCormick told GolfNewsRI after the round. 

McCormick became a new dad earlier this year, but tragedy hit when he lost his mother about a month ago. 

“To be honest with you, I wasn’t going to play at all this year. I just lost my mom, my wife and I had our first baby. I wasn’t going to play at all, I just was not into it. But I had a very nice conversation with a few people, Jaime Lukowicz being one, my wife, a couple of friends and my sister and they all said the same thing, which was, ‘what do you think your mother would want you to do?’ And that answer is very easy, she enjoyed watching me play and I’m glad I can bring some recognition to her life through my golf,” said McCormick. 

For McCormick, this is the second straight year in which he has advanced to U.S. Open Final Qualifying. 

He is hoping to learn from last year’s experience. 

“What I learned last year was the conditions are U.S. Open conditions. It is long rough, it’s very fast greens. I was not prepared for that speed, they were running at like 14-15, which I don’t play a lot of so I need to figure out how to prepare for that,” McCormick added. 

The Final Qualifying will take place on Monday, June 5 – known as Golf’s Longest Day. 

Scoring HERE

Mike Hamilton Gets 1st Alternate 

Defending Rhode Island Stroke Play champion Mike Hamilton birdied the second playoff hole to grab the first alternate spot for final qualifying. 

Hamilton finished the day at two-under with a bogey on 18, but got into a five-for-two playoff for the two alternate spots. 

After saving par on the first playoff hole (the 18th), Hamilton drove the green on the second playoff hole (the tenth). 

He nearly made the eagle putt, but the tap-in birdie got it done.