Willmann Qualifies for 105th U.S. Open
June 07, 2005 | Men's Golf
June 7, 2005
LUBBOCK, Texas - Former Texas Tech golfer Kyle Willmann drained a 35-foot birdie on the first hole of a playoff to defeat Bronson Burgoon of The Woodlands, Texas, on Monday and qualify for the 105th U.S. Open, scheduled for June 16-19 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C. The event will be the second-career PGA tournament for Willmann, who competed in the Shell Houston Open in April.
Willmann, currently a member of the Tight Lies Tour, joins former Oklahoma State golfer Trip Kuehne as the two qualifiers from the sectional qualifier at the TPC at Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas. The qualifier was one of 16 across the country and Japan.
Burgoon turned in the lowest round of the two-round event with a 66 in the opening frame, but followed with a 72 in the second, while Willmann tied for the second-round low score with a 67, pushing Burgoon into a playoff. Willmann's approach on the first playoff hole left him with a daunting attempt at birdie, but he stepped up and made the putt to advance. PGA Tour veteran Greg Chalmers missed the playoff by one stroke.
Willmann, a native of Oklahoma City, transferred to Texas Tech from Tyler Junior College in 2000 and made his presence immediately felt. His Tech career was highlighted at the 2002 NCAA West Regional in Albuquerque, N.M., when he sank a 25-foot putt on the final playoff hole to send the Red Raiders their first NCAA Championships in 26 years.