Williams Returns to Toftrees and Grabs Lone Open Local Spot
USGA Official Jeff Ranck (left) congratulates Eric Williams on his victory in US Open local qualifying
State College, Pa- Honesdale’s Eric Williams returned to the site of his Pennsylvania Mid Amateur Championship last September, the Toftrees Golf Club in State College, and captured the only qualifying spot out of the 20 man field. This time though, the reigning Pennsylvania Golf Association co-player of the year needed a sudden death playoff to punch his ticket to Sectional qualifying and a possible berth in the US Open next month at historic Olympic Club in San Francisco.
On a cold and blustery day on the rain softened 7100 yard Toftrees layout, Williams finished at two over par 74 and in a tie with Summit Hill, Pa club professional Mike Furey. The two headed down the 451 par 4 first hole in a sudden death playoff. Furey’s approach from 200 yards into a cold left to right wind was nearly hole high and about 35 feet left of ... more