By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The future looks bright for the Tennessee Tech men's golf team. The youthful Golden Eagles finished round two of the 2017 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament within five strokes of the overall lead, headlined by freshman Charles Seals' tournament-leading performance through 36 holes.
That momentum will add several promising pieces to the puzzle for the 2017-18 season, but perhaps none has shined throughout the spring and summer more than incoming freshman Will Brooks. The future Golden Eagle clinched a spot in the US Open Sectional Qualifier in Memphis, Tenn. recently and will go to battle for a bid into the US Open on Monday, June 5.
Brooks fired a 6-under 66 in the Knoxville Area, local qualifying round at Holston Hills Country Club, tying for second overall among the field of 78 golfers.
He will compete in one of 10 national and 12 total sectional qualifiers, firing 18 holes at Ridgeway Country Club and 18 more at Germantown Country Club. Brooks will be up against 108 players in his sectional alone, teeing off at 8:28 a.m. PGA Tour regulars Steve Stricker, Retief Goosen and Ian Poulter highlight just a few of several professionals representing Brooks' competition.
More than 980 golfers will compete for a chance to compete at Erin Hills June 12-18 in Erin, Wis. and unseat Dustin Johnson as the reigning winner of the event.
Brooks represents the fifth Golden Eagle, albeit future, to qualify or advance in a USGA sanctioned even in the past 12 years. Braxton Hunter, Lee Maxwell and Lee Whitehead have all qualified for the US Amateur while Scott Stallings played in the US Open in 2013. Most recently, Maxwell qualified for the US Mid-Amateur this past fall.
Additional information about the US Open can be found here.