Six Former Cowboys Will Compete at the 2017 U.S. Open

The 117th United States Open will begin next Thursday, June 15th at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisconsin. When the tournament tees off, Oklahoma State will be well represented.

Rickie Fowler and Alex Noren, both currently ranked in the Top 10 in the world, are expected to participate. So too now, are Peter Uihlein, Talor Gooch, Kevin Dougherty, and Jordan Niebrugge.

Uihlein and Gooch competed in the U.S. Open Sectional qualifier in Columbus, Ohio at Brookside Golf & Country Club. Dougherty made the cut at the California qualifier in New Port Beach at Big Canyon, while Niebrugge was one of only four players to make the cut at the Washington qualifier in Lakewood at Tacoma Country and Golf Club.

In Ohio, Uihlein and Gooch both finished in a four-way-tie at 8-under and competed in a 4-for-3, four hole playoff with both coming out on the winning side.

For Uihlein, this will be his second U.S. Open; he missed the cut back in 2011. He has a little experience with Erin Hills, making the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amatuer back in 2011. So far this season, Uihlein has three top 25 finishes on the PGA tour including T-25th at The Memorial last weekend, and a 5th place finish at the Puerto Rico Open in March.

Gooch meanwhile, will be making his first appearance at the U.S. Open, thanks to a 5-foot birdie putt on the final play-off hole.

As you can expect, Gooch is pretty excited.

His only previous PGA tournament was the FedEx St. Jude Classic in 2014 where he missed the cut.

Fellow former Poke Kevin Tway was also at the Ohio sectional, but missed the cut by one stroke finishing at 7-under.

Kevin Dougherty was one of six to make the cut in New Port Beach, finishing with a 7-under 136. This will be his first U.S. Open, and only his second PGA Tour event. He missed the cut at the Genesis Open in February.

Before his final round today, Dougherty got some motivation in the form of a text message from Rickie Fowler.

Jordan Neibrugge will also be making his U.S. Open debut, though in a place he’s very familiar. He grew up a half hour from the course. In 2013 he won a qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Erin Hills before going on to win the title. Plus, during his senior year at Oklahoma State, Niebrugge finished second in the Erin Hills Intercollegiate.

While this is Neibrugge’s first U.S. Open, it will be his eighth PGA Tour event. The list includes the Open Championship in 2015 and 2016, with his best finish coming in ‘15 with a tie for 6th place.

It’s good to see #golfschool so well represented at one of the the PGA’s premiere events. Good luck boys.