MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – As a senior at Edina High School last spring, Torger Ohe fired a 5-under 67 at Legends Club to advance from the first round of qualifying for the U.S. Open.
Fast forward 369 days and the University of Minnesota freshman did one better Monday, firing a 6-under 66 at Mendakota Country Club to earn medalist honors and a spot in final qualifying for a second consecutive season.
“Having the experience makes it more comfortable this year—hopefully going back to the same spot [for Final Qualifying],” the 19-year-old Ohe said Monday. “This year I feel like I belong out there a little more now. Last year I was kind of in awe of all the guys around me.
“I know it’s not a big chance to get through, but I’m going to take it all in and if I play well again, I think I’ll have a legit chance. Getting more reps at that level and the more I play at a high level around guys that are really good, I’m finding out that my game’s good enough to compete.”
Ohe moves on to the second stage of qualifying with Gopher teammate Chun-Ta Wu, former Gopher golfer Harrison Arnold, the University of Iowa’s Maxwell Tjoa and professional Andrew McCain, with the ultimate prize of earning an invitation to the 126th U.S. Open June 18-21 at the historic Shinnecock Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.
Beginning his round on the back nine Monday, Ohe sank a 15-foot birdie chance at the 11th and never looked back, carding two more birdies during his front nine, while adding another three birdies over his final nine to earn a two-stroke victory with a bogey-free 66.
“You know you have to play really well to get through, and honestly, that kind of frees me up a little bit,” said Ohe, who was named a Mr. Minnesota Golf finalist in 2025. “Stayed patient because I know there’s a lot of par-5s out here, and plan was to get the ball in play on the par-5s and get it up there and two-putt.”
Arnold, who played four seasons with the Gophers before finishing his collegiate career at the University of Central Arkansas, also earns a trip to the next step in qualifying for a second consecutive season in only his second attempt.
“It was really steady all day and put myself in some very stress-free situations,” the 26-year-old Englishman said following his round Monday. “I played the par-5s really well, having the experience and being in that situation last year made it a little bit easier.”
Now working full-time as a club-fitter at 2nd Swing, removed from the long practice sessions and a grueling schedule as a collegiate golfer, Arnold says he’s found a new appreciation for the game.
“Playing full-time, I had high expectations and every shot felt like it mattered more than anything in the world,” Arnold said. “That’s taken a back seat, and I can relax a little bit more on the golf course. Now I look at it like, I’m not a full-time golfer anymore, so I think it’d be a privilege to get through.”
“Playing in [Final Qualifying] was my favorite event all of last year, so I was pretty motivated to get back to it this year. I also got to play in the [U.S. Mid-Amateur] at the back-end of last year, so that was a lot of fun, too.”
An opening-round 68 at Troon Golf Club last season helped Arnold reach the match-play portion of the championship, where he’d fall in the opening round in 19 holes.
Selected as the Gophers’ lone representative for the NCAA Division I Regional Championship next week, Wu survived a pair of bogeys during his final nine holes Monday to earn his spot in Final Qualifying in his first attempt.
“It’s always tough qualifying with one round—anyone can play well, so it’s nice to come away with one,” the 20-year-old Australian said Monday. “Something I’ve been looking forward to all year.”
Self-admittedly a slow starter, Wu managed to flip the golf script on Monday with three consecutive birdies to begin his day.
“A good start was nice because I didn’t really have to press toward the end of the round,” he said. “Went out, played well and hopefully some of my teammates can get it done as well.”
Following a strong spring season for the Gophers, where he’d collect four top-20 finishes and the first victory of his career at the Johnny-O in St. Simons Island, Ga.
Wu will make his NCAA postseason debut at the Columbus Regional at Ohio State University Golf Club on Monday.
McCain, a two-time Minnesota State Open champion, started his round with three consecutive birdies to help the 32-year-old turn in 3-under for the round.
Capitalizing on the par-5 fifth, McCain moved to 4-under but would finish in a share of fifth following his bogey on his 15th hole.
Rolling in his birdie chance from inside of four feet on the first playoff hole sealed McCain’s spot at the next stage.
Gopher freshman Joe Honsa finished as first alternate after posting a 3-under 69 Monday, while teammate Jack Crousore claimed second alternate honors.
The 2026 U.S. Open marks the fifth time Shinnecock Hills Golf Club will host the U.S. Open and 10th USGA championship. Opened in 1891, the William Flynn design can stretch to more than 7,400 yards, just shy of 3,000 yards longer when the club first hosted the championship in 1896.
The storied club has also played host to the U.S. Amateur (1896), U.S. Women’s Amateur (1900), U.S. Senior Amateur (1967) and the Walker Cup (1977).
Brooks Koepka claimed medalist honors most recently when the club hosted the 2018 U.S. Open, carding a final-round 68 to edge Englishman Tommy Fleetwood by one stroke at 1-over 281.
At the 2025 championship at historic Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, J.J. Spaun rebounded from a 40 during his opening nine holes on the final day by dropping a 65-foot putt on the final hole to earn a two-stroke victory over Robert MacIntyre.
Spaun’s 1-under 279 was the only score below par on one of the world’s most difficult layouts.