Moravian Grad Qualifies for US Open

BEALLSVILLE, Md. - Former Moravian College golfer Brian Bergstol (Upper Mount Bethel, PA/Bangor HS) placed second at a 36-hole sectional qualifier on The Members Course at Four Streams in Beallsville, Maryland on Monday with a three-under par 139 to earn a spot in the 108th U.S. Open to be played at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California beginning on June 12th.

Bergstol had an even par 71 on the first 18-holes of the sectional qualifier, which was tied for fifth of the 28 golfers. However, he fired a three-under 68 in the second round of the day, the second lowest score of the qualifier, to earn the second of the two qualifying slots for the U.S. Open. Bergstol will find out on Friday, June 6th his grouping and starting time for the 156-player field at U.S. Open.

"The whole day I was just trying to grind it out, but now it's starting to feel good," Bergstol told the Easton Express-Times. "It's going to be a great experience for me."

Bergstol advanced to the sectional qualifier after shooting a round of 72 on the Bedens Brook Club in Skillman, New Jersey on May 8th in a local qualifying event. His round was tied for the lowest with the top six individuals at the local qualifier moving onto the sectional events.

Bergstol, a 2007 Moravian graduate, won the 2007 Commonwealth Conference Individual Championship with a five-under par 211 in the two-day, 54-hole tournament at Shawnee Country Club, the course where he now works as an assistant pro, as the Greyhounds finished second as a team. Bergstol also won the 2006 Commonwealth Conference Individual Championship, and he was the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year in 2007 and 2006. Bergstol was named the Commonwealth Conference Rookie of the Year back in 2004 when he was the runner-up at the conference championships.

Bergstol, who was also named the 2007 Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Corporation Scholar Athlete for golf, has also earned spots on the Commonwealth All-Conference First Team in 2007, 2006 and 2004. Bergstol’s 71.93 stroke average for the 2006-07 season breaks his own school by over two and a half strokes which he set last year at 74.58. Bergstol, who was Moravian’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete in 2007, is also the career leader in stroke average by more than two strokes at 75.40 over 67.5 rounds in his collegiate career. He played in 56 career tournaments, winning medalist honors seven times and finishing in the top five 29 times.