Pan Leads Three UW Alums To Qualify For U.S. Open
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CLE ELUM, Wash. – The amazing early-summer run of Cheng-Tsung Pan continued Monday at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying at Suncadia’s Tumble Creek Golf Course. Pan led three Husky alums to the three qualifying spots at the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.
Pan played his final four holes at 3-under to earn medalist honors and join Troy Kelly and Richard Lee, both also Washington alums, to qualify for the nation’s national championship.
The finish continues a great recent run for the Husky senior who graduated after winter quarter. Including now wining the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier, Pan has now won the NCAA Bremerton Regional, the U.S. Open Local Qualifier and finished as the runner-up at the NCAA Championships inside of the past 30 days.
He will now advance to play in his third U.S. Open and his fourth major championship, including last year’s British Open. This time, Pan will play as a professional, having completed his four years of NCAA eligibility.
On the so called ‘longest day in golf’, Pan outlasted the field, shooting a pair of 1-under rounds of 69 to finish at 2-under and defeat fellow alums Richard Lee and Troy Kelly by one shot.
Pan displayed his sense for the dramatic in the first round when he aced the seventh hole. He appeared in good shape to qualify, before bogeys on holes nine and eleven on the second 18 to fall below the cutline. Pan would not let it slip from his grasp down the stretch, however. He made 3’s on the final four holes, three of which were par-4’s to go from 1-over to 2-under overall and earn medalist honors.
The clutch finish from Pan was not the only notable Husky finish as former Dawgs and seasoned pros Lee and Kelly also advanced. Lee opened with a round of 1-under 69 and backed it up with an even-par 70 to finish tied for second and also advance. Kelly’s first round of 2-under 68 was the second-best of the tournament and then backed it up with a 1-over 71 to tie Lee to advance.
The 2015 U.S. Open begins Thursday, June 18 at Chambers Bay in University Place, less than an hour drive from the UW campus. Each of Pan, Lee and Kelly will take on the world’s best on their so-called home turf. The tournament continues to the final round on Father’s Day, June 21, with full coverage on Fox Sports.
