Former Gophers Johnson and Arnold Advance From U.S. Open Local Qualifying Along with Future Gopher Ohe and Former Johnnie Boemer

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. – Playing his first competitive round in nearly four years, former University of Minnesota golfer Riley Johnson carded a 6-under par 66 Tuesday at The Legends Club to earn medalist honors and a spot in sectional qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Open.

Johnson’s round was kickstarted by the first albatross of his career on his 13th hole, and he followed it with a trio of birdies over his final five holes to earn a one-stroke victory over Gopher commit Torger Ohe.

“You almost hit a reset when it comes to competitive golf and realize what’s important,” said the 2018 Minnesota graduate and Fargo, N.D., native. “I’ve been working in the insurance industry and I’m the head coach at [Edina High School], so that’s really helped me. Talking through shots with them and after bad rounds, telling them what they want to hear from a coach—I was kind of coaching myself out there today.

“I didn’t really know what to expect coming in, but I felt good and knew if I gave myself some opportunities, that they would fall. Things started to flow on the back nine—I played aggressively conservative and thought I needed one more coming in because you never know during these qualifiers.”

Playing his first 12 holes in even par Tuesday, Johnson’s second shot with a 7-iron from 218 yards found the cup at the par-5 fourth, quickly boosting him to 3-under for the round.

“It landed on the front—you couldn’t see over the hill, and I got up there and I didn’t see the ball,” Johnson said. “I didn’t check the hole right away because I just don’t like that, so I looked behind the green a didn’t think it went that far. But it was in the hole. I’ve had a few holes-in-one, but never an albatross.”

Stringing together three consecutive birdies beginning at the par-4 sixth, including a 35-foot putt at the par-3 seventh, Johnson claimed medalist honors with his round of 6-under 66.

Torger Ohe, the 2023 Minnesota Golf Association Junior Boys’ Player of the Year, tallied a pair of late birdies during his opening nine to turn in 2-under for the round.

Trading a birdie at the fourth with a bogey at the fifth, Ohe rattled off three birdies over his final four holes, including a 15-footer at the seventh, to claim the second qualifying spot with a round of 5-under 67. 

“I’m really excited—I was pleased with the way I got around the golf course and hit my spots,” the Edina High School senior said following his round Tuesday. “I never got in too much trouble, kept moving and made a couple putts down the stretch. I gave myself a lot of chances and never had to fight for par.

“I thought I’d need to hit 4-under today and I never looked at the leaderboard until the last hole. I’m going to try to soak in the experience and learn as much as I can—playing with a lot of unbelievable golfers, so it’ll be fun to see some of those names out there.”

Ohe, the defending Class AAA individual champion, previously qualified for a pair of U.S. Junior championships, missing the cut in 2022 at Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Ore., before advancing to the Round of 16 at the championship the following season at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C.

Former University of Minnesota golfer Harrison Arnold played a stress-free opening nine, carding three birdies to move up the leaderboard at 3-under for the round.

Converting his birdie chance from 10 feet at the 12th, Arnold moved to 4-under for the day but gave back a stroke with a bogey at the long, par-3 13th. 

Arnold answered by nearly chipping in for eagle at the 14th, tapping in for his fifth birdie of the round to claim his qualifying spot with a 4-under 68.

“Played pretty solid and holed a couple of nice putts. Tried to be patient and make it as simple as I possibly could,” the 2023 Minnesota graduate said Tuesday. “Expectations were pretty low, to be honest—first round of the year is always kind of weird.

“Moving on means I’ve probably got to practice a bit more. There are a few things I didn’t like today and a little sloppy with some stuff, but otherwise pretty positive.”

Andrew Boemer, who recently completed his senior season at St. John’s University, rebounded from a rocky start, playing his first two holes in 3-over par, by sinking his birdie chance at the fourth and converting an eagle opportunity at the ninth to draw even.

Following back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th holes, Boemer carded his second bogey of the round to fall back to 1-under.

He’d card consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th holes to earn the final qualifying spot by shooting 3-under 69.

Professional Andrew Israelson, from Staples, Minn., finished as first alternate, while Noah Lawson, of Stillwater, Minn., claimed second alternate honors.

Final qualifying begins on May 19 and will conclude with “The Longest Day in Golf” on June 2 to determine the final field for this year’s national championship.

The 2025 U.S. Open is set to be played June 12-15 at historic Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa.

Hosting for the 10th time next month, Oakmont has contested more U.S. Open championships than any other club in the country.