LSU Gold

Four Tigers Win Sectionals, Qualify for U.S. Open

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Four Tigers Win Sectionals, Qualify for U.S. Open

BATON ROUGE – Monday was a great day for LSU men’s golf program, as three current players and one former Tiger qualified for the 2018 U.S. Open at three Sectional qualifiers held across the country.

Former Tiger Sam Burns, who outplayed Tiger Woods in the final round of the 2018 Honda Classic in February, advanced from the Memphis sectional in fine fashion. Burns carded a course record 9-under 62 in the first round at the Ridgeway Country Club. He was in cruise control from there, finishing his second round at 6-under. Burns was the medalist of a field that sent the top-11 players to the U.S. Open, as he finished five strokes ahead of the the field at 15-under.

LSU rising senior Luis Gagne was also the medalist at the sectional in Jupiter, Fla. Gagne put together impressive rounds of 68-70 at The Bear’s Club to win by two strokes in a qualifier that only awarded spots to the top-3 finishers.

Junior Philip Barbaree and sophomore Jacob Bergeron lit up the Richmond, Texas, sectional. The LSU pair tied for medalist honors at 11-under-par 133; Bergeron went 64-69 and Barbaree shot 68-65 at the Shadow Hawk Golf Club.

Other Tigers who participated in the final round of qualifying for the U.S. Open included national champion Ben Taylor (E, T41 in Columbus, Ohio); Ken Looper (+1, T11 in Springfield, Ohio); national champion Eric Ricard (-6, T20 in Memphis) and Andrew Loupe (-2, T45 in Memphis); rising senior Nathan Jeansonne (-5, T16 in Richmond, Texas).

The 2018 U.S. Open will be held June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York.