Olin Browne Jr. Leaves No Doubt As He Finally Qualifies for a U.S. Open
COLUMBUS, Ohio — It took 17 years to qualify, but Olin Browne Jr. will be making his first appearance in the 123rd U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club after medalist honors at final qualifying in Columbus, Ohio.
Browne Jr., 34, shot 66 in his morning round at The Lakes Golf and Country Club with a miscue on the par-3 11th when he found the water and made a double-bogey 5, his only blemish over 36 holes which included an afternoon 67 at Brookside Golf & Country Club to finish 11 under.
“What a knucklehead,” Browne Jr. said of his water ball. “You got the whole world right and then I just kept making birdies, and it was great.”
Browne Jr. has struggled to make it in professional golf after graduating from Pepperdine University, just 22 miles down the coast from LACC.
He played in 14 events on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2019, his only full year on the circuit, making two cuts and only $3,304.
Since losing his playing privileges in 2019, Browne, who is based in South Florida, has played on the Minor League Golf Tour, which has events of one, two or three rounds. His career earnings are $127,936.
The last event he played in was at the end of May, finished T3 in the Abacoa May Classic and winning $895. In mid-April, Browne Jr. won an event and pocketed $1,000.
Browne Jr. now follows his father, who played in 12 U.S. Opens with a best finish of T5 in 1997 at Pinehurst No. 2. His biggest claim to USGA fame occurred in the 2005 final U.S. Open qualifier at Woodmont Country Club, outside of Rockville, Md., when he shot a 59 after starting with a underwhelming 73 in the morning round.
That afternoon round included a 29 over the final nine holes that included two eagles and two birdies to easily qualify.
“It's awesome, I'm exhausted right now” Browne Jr. said of his triumph. “Wore out my caddie, wouldn't tell me where we stood. So, I had no idea where I was. I just tried to keep doing what I was doing. I'm thrilled man. I can't wait. I'm so excited.”
The Columbus qualifier had 103 players competing for 11 spots, with 50-year-old Stewart Cink among those moving on to next week's U.S. Open.