MANILA, Philippines - Reigning Philippine Open champion Angelo Que gained a second crack at one of the world’s golfing majors when he finished second behind New Zealand’s David Smail in the sectional qualifying at the Ryugasaki Country Club at Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan Monday.
Que, sustaining the form that netted him the ICTSI-Malarayat crown on the Mercedes Benz Tour last week, fired 70 and 68 in the 36-hole elims to gain a spot in this year’s US Open slated June 18-21 at Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in New York.
“It feels great,” said Que. “I was not able to practice on this course but the results were very good.”
The US Open will mark Que’s second stint in a major after debuting in last year’s British Open where he missed the cut. He was also thrilled to emulate compatriot Artemio Murakami who also qualified for the US Open through the Japan qualifier last year.
Bae Sang-moon of Korea, winner of three legs on this year’s Asian Tour, also clinched a berth in the US Open by finishing tied for third with rounds of 68 and 71.
It will be the 23-year-old Bae’s first stint in a major.
Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng missed out on a top-five finish after closing out with a 74, settling for joint sixth although he earned the first alternate status by beating fellow Asian Tour campaigner David Gleeson of Australia in a playoff.
Chinese star Liang Wen-chong, Asia’s number one in 2007, Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, Korea’s Noh Seung-yul and the fancied Singaporean duo Lam Chih Bing and Mardan Mamat failed in their bids to earn a top-five finish.
Liang came in ninth with rounds of 73 and 68-141, Thaworn stood a stroke back after a 70 and 72-142 while Noh, last season’s rookie of the year, shot rounds of 73 and 70 to finish tied for 16th with 143.
Lam settled for 22nd place after a 74 and 72-146 while Mardan wound up with a 150 after rounds of 76 and 74.
Japanese teen sensation Ryo Ishikawa also failed in his bid to qualify after a 74 and 70. A total of 29 players teed up in the qualifiers. – Dante Navarro