In most years there are two, maybe three, Illinois-connected players in the finals of the U.S. Open. This year, for the 124th Open that tees off on Thursday in Pinehurst, N.C., there will be four such players among the 156 starters.
Interestingly, though, none of them are among the area’s regular PGA Tour players. The four range in age from 22 to 44 and three are products of the University of Illinois’ powerhouse program. The other is a club professional who took a job in the area in March.
Just getting on the tee sheet for a U.S. Open is a commendable accomplishment, as only declared professionals or amateurs with a handicap index that does not exceed 0.4 can enter. Even with those stringent requirements a record 10,187 entered last year.
While some players are exempted into the final field through past peformances most had to survive 109 local qualifying rounds held around the country and then get through one of the thirteen 36-hole final qualifiers held in the U.S., England, Japan and Canada.
Two of the four local participants survived both stages of qualifiers, and only two players in tournament history have done that and gone on to win the coveted title – Ken Venturi in 1964 and Orville Moody in 1969.
Here are this year’s Illinois-connected participants at Pinehurst:
JACKSON BUCHANAN – This 22-year old University of Illinois junior earned a spot in his first U.S. Open proper by shooting 64-67 in the final qualifier in his native Georgia. Buchanan shared medalist honors in that event and has been a great player for the Illini for three years. He was Big Ten player-of-the-year in helping Illinois win the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championship. As a sophomore, he was the NCAA runner-up in the individual competition.
BRIAN CAMPBELL – This 31-year old Californian was playing for the Illini when he finished as low amateur (tied for 27th place) in the 2015 U.S. Open at Washington’s Chambers Bay. He also qualified for the Open proper when it was played at Pinehurst in 2014 but didn’t survive the 36-hole cut. Since turning pro in 2015 he has been a regular on the Korn Ferry Tour.
THOMAS DETRY – Also 31, Detry grew up in Belgium before Illini coach Mike Small recruited him. He got into this week’s field off his position in the top 60 point leaders in the Official World Golf Rankings. Detry climbed into that level with a tie for fourth at the PGA Championship last month. He was the Big Ten champion in 2016 after representing Belgium in three World Amateur Team Championships and Europe in the 2010 Junior Ryder Cup. He’s played in two previous U.S. Opens, tying for 49th at New York’s Winged Foot in 2020 and missing the cut at California’s Torrey Pines in 2021.
ANDY SVOBODA – Named the new head professional at Butler National in Oak Brook in March, the 44-year old graduate of St. John’s University advanced to his sixth U.S. Open by shooting 68-65 at a New Jersey qualifier. Svoboda had more that $1 million in winnings on both the Korn Ferry and PGA Tours before switching to the club professional ranks. He missed the cut in five of his six previous Opens, surviving all 72 holes en route to a tie for 71st in 2008. He was in last year’s Open field at Los Angeles Country Club, his first appearance in the finals since 2013. This year qualified for the PGA Championship and was runner-up in the Illinois PGA March Play Championship.
HERE AND THERE: The 91st Illinois Women’s State Amateur runs through Thursday at The Grove in Long Grove. The Chicago District Golf Association is conducting the event for the first time, replacing the Illinois Women’s Golf Association which ran the event for 90 years.
The 62nd Radix Cup matches between the top professionals in the Illinois PGA and top amateurs of the CDGA will be held Thursday at Oak Park Country Club. The IPGA leads the series 37-22-2.
Brad Key, an Arlington Heights resident and Ivanhoe Club member, won the 21st CDGA Senior Championship at Kishwaukee, in DeKalb.
The Women’s Western Junior runs through Friday at Hinsdale Golf Club, and the Western Junior for boys begins its four-day run at Ruth Lake on Monday. The Illinois Senior Open is Monday and Tuesday at Hawthorn Woods.