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Van Rooyen Makes Hay During Golf’s Longest Day, Earns Spot into U.S. Open at Oakmont CC

Michael Fermoyle : June 03, 2025

USGA Qualifier
Van Rooyen Makes Hay During Golf’s Longest Day, Earns Spot into U.S. Open at Oakmont CC
Erik Van Rooyen birdied the 10th hole and eagled the 569-yard, par-5 11th at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club on Monday in the first round of the 36-hole U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying in Columbus, Ohio.
 
He added four birdies in a row, from the 14th hole to the 17th, on the way to a back-nine 29 and an 18-hole score of 8-under 64. The former University of Minnesota star from South Africa added a 67 in the second round and, basically, lapped the field. 
 
His two-round total of 131 was six shots better than the second-place aggregates of the three players who tied for second -- Bud Cauley (69-68--137), Lanto Griffin (69-68) and Justin Lower (68-69).
 
All of them earned spots in this year's U.S. Open, along with Cameron Young. He posted a 71-68--139, which got him into a five-man playoff for the last of six qualifying places at Kinsale, and he won the playoff with a birdie on the first extra hole. 
 
The Open will be played June 12-15 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. 
 
Van Rooyen finished second in early May at the Byron Nelson C.J. Cup in Dallas and earned more than $1 million there. He has made $1,631,960 this year, which has  him ranked No. 62 on the PGA Tour money list.  
 
Van Rooyen won the Minnesota State Amateur in 2012. One of his predecessors, Tom Hoge, who won the State Am twice, in 2009 and  2010, has made $3,903,247 in 2025. He ranks No. 21 on the money list and is exempt from U.S. Open qualifying. 

 

US Open Qualifying 2025

At Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club 

Par 72, 7,268 yards

Columbus, Ohio

Final results -- 68 players for 6 spots

 

1. Erik Van Rooyen, South Africa                        64-67--131

T2. Bud Cauley, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.          69-68--137

T2. Lanto Griffin, Blacksburg, Va.                          69-68--137

T2. Justin Lower, Akron, Ohio                                68-69--137

5. Harrisoh Ott, Franklin, Tenn.                              67-71--138

6. Cameron Young, Pslm Beach Gdns., Fla.         71-68--139 *

 

What it took -- 139  (5-man playoff for 1 spot; Young won with birdie on 1st extra hole)

 

Notables who missed:

 

Eric Cole, Tequesta, Fla.                                        70-69--139 (2nd alternate)

Max Homa, Scottsdale, Ariz.                                 69-70--139

Rickie Fowler, Jupiter, Fla.                                     70-69--139

Padraig Harrington, Ireland                                   74-66--140        

Thomas Lehman, Scottsdale                                 71-71--142

Jake Knapp, Scottsdale                                        72-71--143

Matt Kuchar, Jupiter, Fla.                                       74-70--144

 

At Woodmont Country Club -- North Course

Par 71, 7,385 yards

Rockville, Md. 

Final results -- 84 for 4 spots

 

1. Ryan Mccormick, Middletown, N.J.                   66-66--132 (-10)

2. Trevor Cone, Charlotte, N.C.                                69-68--137

T3. Bryan Lee (a), Fairfax, Va.                                   70-69--139*

T3. Marc Leishmaniasis, Australia                             70-69--139*

 

What it took -- 139 (3-for-2 playoff) 

  

Failed to advance 

Andrew Boemer, Eagan                                             75-76--151

Harrison Arnold, England                                           75-77--152

Josh Persons, Fargo                                                  75-79--154

At Springfield Country Club

Par 70, 6,605 yards

Springfield, Ohio

Final results -- 82 for 4 spots 

 

1. George Haefner, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.                  68-65--133 (-7)

T2. George Duangmanee, Fairfax, Va.                           68-67--135

T2. Maxwell Moldovan, Uniontown, Ohio                      69-66--135

4. Zac Blair, Orem, Utah                                                 68-68--136

 

What it took -- 136

 

Failed to advance

Torger Ohe, Edina                                                           75-72--147

At Piedmont Driving Club

Par 72, 7,212 yards

Atlanta, Ga. 

Final results -- 84 for 5 spots 

 

T1. Mason Howell, Thomasville, Ga.                             63-63--126 (-18)

T1. Jackson Buchanan, Dacula, Ga.                              63-63--126

T3. Tyler Weaver (a), England                                         67-66--133

T3. Jackson Koivan (a), Chapel Hill, N.C.                       69-64--133

T3. Will Chandler, Atlanta                                                70-63--133

 

What it took -- 133

 

Failed to advance

Sam Udovich (a), Inver Grove Heights                            69-73--142

At Wine Valley Golf Club

Par 72, 7,510 yards

Walla Walla, Wash. 

Final results -- 41 for 2 spots 

 

1. Matt Vogt (a), Indianapolis                                         68-68--136 (8 under) 

2. Brady Calkins, Chehalls, Wash.                                   68-69--137

 

What it took -- 137

 

Failed to advance

Ralph Baxley, Minnetonka                                                71-77--148

At Lambton Golf & Country Club 

Par 70, 7,101 yards

Toronto, Ont., Canada

Final results -- 70 for 7 spots 

 

1. Kevin Velo, Danville, Calif.                                           65-67--132 (-8)

T2. Niklas Norgaard, Denmark                                          64-69--133

T2. Matt Wallace, England                                                67-66--133

T4. Thorbjorn Olesen, Denmark                                        67-67--134

 T4. Mark Hubbard, Denver                                                64-70--134

T4. Victor Perez, France                                                    67-67--134

T4. Emiliano Grillo, Argentina                                            69-65--134

 

What it took -- 134

 

Failed to advance 

Frankie Capan, North Oaks                                               73-76--149

David Morgan (a), Naples, Fla.                                           77-76--153
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