Local U.S. Open qualifying: Former BYU star Carson Lundell, four others advance to final qualifying
Among the five Utahns who advanced in local U.S. Open qualifying on Monday was former BYU golfer Keanu Akina, who made a clutch birdie putt on the 18th green
Former BYU golfer Carson Lundell hits during the Korn Ferry Tour Utah Championship at Oakridge Country Club in Farmington on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. | Jeffrey D.
Allred, Deseret News When he lined up a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th green at Willow Creek Country Club on Monday afternoon, former BYU golfer Keanu Akina figured that the tricky downhill slider could be the difference between making the cut at the local U. S. Open qualifying, or having to survive a playoff for one of the five berths into sectional qualifying.
Turns out, Akina was exactly right. His putting stroke was true as well, and he gave a little fist pump as the ball fell into the hole, giving him a score of 6-under par 66 on a hot, breezy day in Sandy. “I just felt like the way the course was playing, six (under) would be, maybe not comfortable, but a little bit comfortable,” said Akina, who graduated from BYU in 2024 and turned pro shortly after that.
“I thought five (under) would be a playoff. That’s just what it felt like. I didn’t want to run it by too far.
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