Golfers from two Arlington high school teams recently participated in a competition, aiming to advance in the qualifying process to earn a spot to play in this summer’s U.S. Open championship in Pennsylvania.
Finn Watson from Washington-Liberty High School and Logan Reilly from Bishop O’Connell High played in the U.S. Open 18-hole local qualifying tournament at Northwest Golf Course near Silver Spring.
Reilly, a senior, shot a 5-under 67 to finish second in the event by one stroke to advance in the qualifying. His round included four birdies and an eagle.
Watson, a junior, shot an even-par 72 but did not advance. He made three birdies and an eagle.
They were among 120 players in the field. Two competitors tied at 66 to win the event.
Seven players moved on to the final qualifying event, a one-day, 36-hole competition hosted by the Middle Atlantic Golf Association and scheduled for June 2 at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville.
Dozens of players, including many professional golfers, will compete in that qualifying event for seven spots to play in the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Reilly will be one of a few high-school-age players in the field.
Reilly participated in last year’s same event at Woodmont, but did not qualify.
“It will be fun to play in that again,” said Reilly, who is headed to Auburn University. “It’s a tough course, but I will be more prepared this year.”
Reilly and Watson have been top players for their teams in high-school tournaments in recent years. Reilly is a two-time Division I private-school state champion. Watson won the Liberty District individual championship this past fall, was second in the region tournament and tied for eighth in the Class 6 state tourney.
O’Connell fifth in girls Va. championship meet: In other high-school golf news, the Bishop O’Connell Knights finished fifth in the private-school girls state championship with a 388 team score.
The 18-hole event was played on the Williamsburg National Golf Course.
Leading O’Connell was Ciara McLaughlin. She shot 86 to tie for 10th. Next for O’Connell was Delina Melles with a 93.
