Around the Green

Walker Lee Qualifies for U.S. Open

In a field stacked with USGA champions and PGA Tour winners, a 19-year-old incoming college freshman proved experience isn’t everything.

On a long day that included a nearly two-hour weather delay, Walker Lee, of Houston, Texas, rode a hot putter and loads of self-confidence Monday to shoot 65-67 at Lakewood Country Club in one of 10 U.S. Open sectional qualifiers nationwide. One of the first to finish the annual 36-hole marathon, the left-handed Lee posted 10-under-par 132 to grab the clubhouse lead over established pros such as Hunter Mahan and Woody Austin, and U.S. Junior Amateur champions Will Zalatoris (2014) and Philip Barbaree (2015).

Lee, who will be a freshman at Texas A&M University in the fall, then sat around nervously and waited for more than an hour to see if his score would stand up as one of three that would advance to the 117th U.S. Open next week at Erin Hills.
 
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