Guthrie ties for second at U.S. Open local qualifier, will play in 36-hole sectional qualifier in June

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Luke Guthrie moved a step closer to playing in another U.S. Open this week thanks to a birdie barrage and a flawless back nine.

The Quincy native finished tied for second at a U.S. Open local qualifying event at Illini Country Club, shooting 5-under 66 to earn one of five advancing spots from a field of 84 golfers. Guthrie, who now resides in Ponte Verde Beach, Fla., will tee it up in one of nine sectional qualifiers June 5.

Guthrie played in the U.S. Open in both 2013 and 2014.

University of Illinois sophomore Jackson Buchanan won the local qualifier, shooting a 7-under 64. Guthrie tied with Mattoon’s Derek Meinhart at 5-under, while Illinois State University’s Parker Wisdom and University of Illinois’ Adrien Dumont de Chassart tied for fourth at 4-under 67.

Guthrie’s round began with a birdie on the par-4 second hole and a bogey on the par-5 third hole. He made two birdies on the final three holes of the front nine to make the turn at 2-under 34. After a par at No. 10, he rolled in three consecutive birdie putts to move to the top of the leaderboard at the time. He closed his round with five consecutive pars.

University of Illinois fifth-year senior Tommy Kuhl shot a course-record 9-under 62 and would have advanced, but he disqualified himself following the round when he realized he violated a rule not allowing golfers to fix aeration marks on the greens.

Four other Adams County golfers and one Pike County golfer were in the field.

Quincy’s Lucas Kane finished tied for 12th at even-par 71, while Quincy’s Alex McCulla tied for 27th at 3-over 74. Quincy’s Jimmie Patterson shot a 4-over 75, Pleasant Hill’s Austin McKinnon and Camp Point’s Bryce Terwelp both shot an 8-over 79.