GolfNewsRI

For the fifth straight year, Kirkbrae Country Club plays host to a U.S. Open Local Qualifier. 

The tournament will take place on Tuesday, May 12 with tee times starting at 7:30 a.m. off the first tee. 

For those interested in watching, the event is open to the public.

Here is our guide to the most interesting day of the year: 

The Field, The Cut + More 

For the tournament, there are approximately 90 players competing for five spots in U.S. Open Final Qualifying and two alternates. 

It’s important to note that it is NOT top five AND ties like in other events, it’s just the top five. 

So any ties for the final spot or two (or more) would be broken in a playoff, – or multiple playoffs. 

Same is true for the two alternate spots.

In each of the last four years in this qualifier at Kirkbrae, there has been some sort of playoff.

As far as projecting the cut, two years ago, three-under got into a playoff. 

Last year, five players finished at four-under to take the spots clean. 

Three under got in a five-for-two playoff for the alternate spots.

Highlighting the Field

Click HERE for the full tee sheet.

Players You Know, and Love

Ryan Marcantonio – 7:30 am – Former East Greenwich star, currently attends Coastal Carolina 

Drew MacLeod – 7:39 am – Defending RI High School State Champion, part of La Salle Dynasty

Joey Iaciofano – 7:48 am – 2025 RI Junior Am finalist, rising senior at Oxbridge Academy in Florida, has exempt status on AJGA

Jon Pannone – 8:06 am – Former pro turned back Amateur, owner of Spargo Golf

Jamie Lukowicz – 8:51 am – 2020 RI Amateur Champ, Advanced to U.S. Senior Open final qualifying

Kevin Blaser – 9 am – 2022 RI Amateur Champ, advanced to final qualifying last year

Tom McCormick – 9:18 am – 2005 RI Amateur Champ, defending Kirkbrae club champion

John Auclair – 10:21 am – Kirkbrae legend, 12-time Kirkbrae club champion

Mike Hamilton – 10:48 am – Two-time RI Stroke Play champion, multi-time Kirkbrae club champion

Bobby Leopold – 11:06 am – 5-time RI Amateur Champion

Rocco Capalbo – 10:57 am – Prout star, 2024 RI High School State Champion

Austin Cilley – 11:15 am – College hoops star turned golfer, Played in U.S. Mid-Am last year, 2024 Burke Memorial Champ

Max Jackson – 11:51 am – 2-time RI High School State Champ, plays at Rutgers, catalyst for the La Salle Dynasty

Local Collegiates (PC, URI, Bryant etc…)

Chad Correia – 7:39 am – Rising junior at Bryant, helped team advance to match play at OVC Championship 

Logan Jaeger – 8:15 am – Grad student at PC, helped lead program in first varsity season in years 

Dylan Gallagher – 9:36 am — Recently wrapped up collegiate career at Bryant, led squad to match play at OVC championship, advanced to final qualifying last year 

Tyler Bruneau – 11:51 am –Star player at URI alongside Luke Stennett, former high school golf State Champion down in Florida at The Benjamin School 

Notable Out of Towners 

Lucas Politano – 7:39 am – Plays for Rutgers, qualified for NCAA Tournament as an individual, named to Big 10 All-Freshman team 

Josiah Hakala – 9:18 am – Phenom from New Hampshire. 2025 NH Amateur champion

Jim Renner – 8:06 am – MA golf legend, had PGA Tour card in 2011 and made 11 of 22 cuts 

James Driscoll – 11:06 am – Played on PGA Tour in 2005 and 2006

Joey Monahan – 11:15 am – Nephew of PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan

The Course

According to the player information sheet, Kirkbrae will play from gold tees at about 6,700 yards.

It is a similar distance to what Kirkbrae has played in the past for this event.

The only change the club made over the offseason is on the par-5 third hole. 

The bunker that was up on the right side near the fourth tee has been moved to a green side bunker. 

Could come into play for guys going for green in two. 

Other than that, Kirkbrae has been in great shape all season, and will be no different.