Michigan State Golfer Qualifies for the 2024 U.S. Open

Michigan State's Ashton McCulloch continues to have major success.

Michigan State's Ashton McCulloch hits his approach shot on hole No. 18 during the NCAA golf regional on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, at Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath Township. / Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA

Michigan State athletics continues to excel this year, even into the month of June.

Michigan State men's golfer Ashton McCulloch clinched his spot in the U.S. Open on Monday, recording an 8-under par 134 at the Cherry Hill Club in Ridgeway, Ontario, Canada.

McCulloch was one of 66 players in the qualifying round. He and the other 65 folders competed for seven Open spots.

McCulloch began with a 6-under par 65. He closed the outing with a 2-under par 69 to finish at 8-under par 134. The former Spartan was the only amateur to advance to the U.S. Open. The Open will take place June 13-16 at  Pinehurst Course in North Carolina.

McCulloch was named to the All-Big Ten Second team this season. In nine events, he was the team’s top performer in every event.

McCulloch has registered a 70.89 scoring average over 36 rounds. This was also a record breaker, as he beat out the previous mark of 71.33. The mark was set by former Spartan standout James Piot in 2021.

A successful season this year has helped move McCulloch to No. 1 all-time. His performance also led to him reaching the top of the career leaders for scoring average. McCulloch’s score of 71.74 beat the mark set by Piot, who played from 2017-22, with a score of 71.99.

Last summer, McCulloch became the third-oldest amateur to win the Canadian Amateur title. This provided him a spot in the RBC Canadian Open last weekend.

Not only was he named All-Big Ten Second Team, but the Golf Coaches Association of America named him to its All-Midwest Region. McCulloch ended amongst the top-five teams in the conference. 

In 13 events for Michigan State, McCulloch finished in the top five four times and in the top 10 five out of six times. He finished in the top 20 eight times while having nearly 99 percent of his rounds counted toward the overall team total.

McCulloch also posted an individual win in which he shared medal honors at the Johnnie-O at Sea Island in March. He posted a 10-under par 62 in the second round, which set a program record for the lowest 18-hole score in program history.

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