Kansas State Golf Alum Aaron Watkins Qualifies For The U.S. Open

Nothing came easy for Aaron Watkins at the U.S. Open’s Memphis Sectional Qualifier. Originally scheduled as a 2-day event at Memphis’s Germantown Country Club, with 18 holes to be played each day, rain forced a grueling schedule change.

A rainy Monday forced golfers attempting to qualify through the Memphis sectional into a 36-hole marathon on Tuesday. Through that adversity, and a twice-through slog around a soggy 18, Watkins played brilliantly.

The first time around the Germantown course saw Watkins card a solid 68, putting him well within reach of a coveted berth in the U.S. Open. When he followed that strong round with an outstanding 66, his place in the prestigious event was secure. Watkins finished in a tie for second place at the event.

Watkins, a 2004 graduate of K-State, becomes the first Wildcat to appear in the event since 1987, when the legendary Jim Colbert made his last appearance. Colbert earned 16 berths in the Open during his career, marking him as the finest golfer Kansas State has ever known. His first appearance in the event was also his best, as he finished in a tie for 3rd in 1967, only two years removed from his time at KSU.

One of only 156 competitors (approximately one-half through sectional qualiftying) to advance to the 2012 U.S. Open, with this win Watkins has indeed elevated himself into elite golf company. It will be interesting to watch how he handles the additional pressure of one of the biggest stages in golf.

The event will be held at The Olympic Club in San Francisco from June 11-17. For more information about the U.S. Open, including a television viewing schedule, visit usopen.com.