LAUREL, N.Y. (May 12, 2009) – Bob Rittberger of Garden City, N.Y., fired a competitive course-record 67 to claim medalist honors and lead the field of 78 players during U.S. Open Championship local qualifying held Tuesday, May 12 at Laurel Links Country Club in Laurel, N.Y. All qualifiers advance to sectional qualifying, the last stage before the 2009 U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage Black.

Larry Scortichini of Coram, N.Y., finished four strokes behind Rittberger with an even-par 71 to advance. Sixteen-year-old amateur Cameron Wilson of Rowayton, Conn., the low amateur at the 2008 Met Open, fired a one-over-par 72 to advance to sectional qualifying. Two-time MGA/MetLife Public Links champion Paul Dickinson of Montauk, N.Y., and Sean Farren of Locust Valley, N.Y., also carded rounds of 72 to claim the last two qualifying spots. Former Met Open champion Rick Hartmann of Sag Harbor, N.Y., will be the first alternate and Kirk Oguri of Huntington Station, N.Y., won a four-way playoff be the second alternate.

Today’s event was one of five U.S. Open Local Qualifying Rounds conducted by the Metropolitan Golf Association. The event is open to both professional and amateur golfers with a USGA Handicap Index of 1.4 or better. Today’s qualifiers advance to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying, scheduled for Monday, June 8, at Century Country Club and Old Oaks Country Club, both in Purchase, N.Y. Sectional qualifying is the final stage before the 109th U.S. Open Championship at Bethpage State Park (Black Course) in Farmingdale, N.Y., on June 18-21.

Final Results