Moor Park's Matt Wallace qualifies for US Open

Having finished in a tie for 51st place at the Italian Open on Sunday, the Moor Park professional secured a share of seventh after yesterday's 36-hole event to claim one of the 14 places that were up for grabs for the 118th edition of the tournament at Shinnecock Hills next week.

The 28-year-old had to come through a play-off to secure his maiden appearance at the major championship last year where he missed the cut on seven-over-par at Erin Hills, but he was able to avoid any additional tension at the end of a physically and mentally demanding day this time around.

After an inconsistent start on the New Course at the Surrey venue, Wallace made a significant move on the leader board with a run of five birdies in eight holes to move to five-under-par. Although he was to drop back to four-under with a bogey six on the 16th, that shot was retrieved with a birdie three on 18th.

The second round began the same way as the first in terms of scoring for this year’s Hero Indian Open winner with two pars followed by birdie, bogey, birdie and another bogey.

Wallace remained at five-under after a bogey five at the 10th had cancelled out a birdie four at the eighth, but next week’s trip to Southampton, in Suffolk County, New York, was to be secured with birdie fours at the 14th and 16th holes.

The qualifying tournament was won by Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston and James Morrison, who finished level on 10-under, while fellow Englishmen Matthew Southgate, Scott Gregory, Tom Lewis and Paul Waring, plus Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, are also USA-bound for the tournament which starts on Thursday, June 14.

Wallace’s Moor Park club-mate Callum Shinkwin retired with four holes of his second round left to complete.

The Bushey golfer carded a one-under-par opening 18 holes on the New Course, and was plus-one for his Old Course round when he chose to pull out with his chances of qualifying over.