US Open Qualifying: England's Jonathan Lomas, Simon Dyson and Nick Dougherty will all be making their US Open debuts next week after coming through the first-ever European qualifying tournament at Walton Heath yesterday. Ireland's Gary Murphy was among those to miss out, however, after rounds of 74 and 71.
The English trio were among the nine who made it into the field for Pinehurst after a 36-hole tournament in which only 53 players took part following a large number of withdrawals.
Lomas had rounds of 68 and 66 to finish joint first with Swede Peter Hanson on 10 under par - and then immediately flew to Glasgow for a Neil Diamond concert.
With Pinehurst being in North Carolina, it was suggested to the Ayrshire-based golfer that "Sweet Caroline" might carry extra significance for him now.
For 27-year-old Yorkshireman Dyson, who came third on seven under, it will be the first event he has ever played in the States.
He did qualify for the 2001 American Express world championship in St Louis, but that was cancelled after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington three days before it was due to start.
"I'm going to go early and soak it up," commented Dyson. "I'm good mates with Luke Donald and I can't wait to ring him and tell him I'm coming over."
They were Walker Cup team-mates at Nairn six years ago. "I went into today with the attitude that if I didn't do it it was no big deal. But doing it is fantastic!"
Dougherty was Donald's partner in the match in 2001 and for the 23-year-old from Liverpool it will be a first major. He has failed to qualify for the Open the last two years. Winner of his first tour title in Singapore earlier this season he was down the field after an opening 73 on the old course, but he then switched lay-outs and came in with a sparkling 66 to make it right on the limit.
US OPEN QUALIFYING (Walton Heath, Old and New Courses): Qualifiers: 134 J Lomas (Eng) 68 66, P Hanson (Swe) 66 68. 137 S Dyson (Eng) 67 70. 138 S Kjeldsen (Den) 69 69. 139 M Campbell (NZ) 68 71, R Karlsson (Swe) 70 69, J-F Lima (Por) 71 68, N Dougherty (Eng) 73 66, P Hedblom (Swe) 74 65. Other: 145 G Murphy (Ire) 74 71.
