Keiter, Larson Advance to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier

Photo courtesy: Hawai’i State Junior Golf Association.

Napili’s Chris Keiter and Na’alehu’s Hunter Larson earned qualifying spots to next month’s U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier by taking the top two spots in Monday’s USGA U.S. Open Local Qualifier, held at The Club at Hokuli’a.

Keiter, a PGA Apprentice, fired a 69 to finish two strokes ahead of Larson, who is also a PGA Apprentice and 2010 captain of Team Hawai’i in the USGA Men’s State Team Championship.

Both golfers advance to one of the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifiers, held on Monday, June 6 at 10 different sites around the country. Japan and England are each hosting a qualifier at the end of May.

In case either Keiter or Larson cannot attend the Sectional Qualifier, former University of Hawai’i at Hilo golfer Dalen Yamauchi is the first alternate. He shot a 72 to finish in a tie with Honolulu’s Jun Ho Won, who is the second alternate.

U.S. Open Local Qualifying at The Club at Hokuli’a results

Chris Keiter (qualified) – 69

Hunter Larson (qualified) – 71

Dalen Yamauchi (first alternate) – 72

Jun Ho Won (second alternate) – 72

Darren Sayre – 74

Remington Hirano – 74

Ryan Acosta – 75

Joseph Walbert – 75

Patrick Murakami – 76

Kevin Hayashi – 76

Shon Katahira – 77

Andrew Chin – 77

Ryan Coyle – 77

Brian Culbertson – 78

Reece Alnas – 78

Titan Oshura – 78

Juan Rodriguez – 79

James Sparks – 79

Hung-Hsuan Hsu – 79

Christopher Moore – 79

Mark Morrison – 80

Ben Garner – 80

Jay Taise – 80

Kaikala Wilson – 80

Victor Sanchez – 81

Acey Yanagishita – 82

John Shaw – 83

Greg Molfino – 85

Channing Tam – DQ

Perry Xin – DQ

Kris Kitt – WD

Kengo Aoshima – WD