Venetia native plays way into U.S. Open
There will be one local golfer in the field when the 126th U.S. Open begins June 18.
Jake Sollon, 28, of Venetia, qualified for the event Monday by shooting 5-under par at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md.
The U.S. Open will be played this year at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Tuckahoe, N.Y.
Sollon placed fourth in the qualifier that was held on Woodmont’s North Course. He shot 137 over two rounds and advanced by defeating University of Virginia golfer Bryan Lee in a playoff. Sollon won on the first playoff hole, a par-3, when his tee shot landed eight inches from the cup. He won with a tap-in for birdie.
“I’ve never been that scared over an eight-inch putt in my life, but it fell,” Sollon told golf.com. “I was supposed to fly to Bogota, Colombia for a PGA Tour Americas start. I’ve never been so glad to cancel a flight in my life.”
A Peters Township High School graduate, Sollon played college golf at both Rider and Oregon. He was one of 43 golfers who survived qualifiers Monday at various locations across the country.
Sollon has some professional experience. He has played in one Korn Ferry Tour event and several PGA Tour Americas and PGA Tour Canada tournaments.
This will be his first start in one of golf’s major tournaments.