The Coachella Valley will once again host five local qualifying tournaments for the U.S. Open, with another local qualifier set for Borrego Springs.
The five desert qualifiers are among the 110 qualifiers across the nation and internationally for golfers hoping to take the first step toward reaching the Open event at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. June 18-21.
The Coachella Valley has been a favorite spot for the USGA for local qualifiers in recent years, with at least four and generally five local qualifiers in the desert each year.
The desert local qualifiers will start on May 4 at Indian Ridge Country Club in Palm Desert. On May 5 the qualifier will be at Andalusia Country Club in La Quinta, and two days later a local qualifier will be played at Rancho La Quinta Country Club. Rancho La Quinta replaces the Palmer Course at PGA West in La Quinta in the five-course rotation this year. The Palmer Course was played for the first time last year, replacing Bermuda Dunes Country Club.
On May 11, the qualifier will be held at Classic Club in Thousand Palms, and on May 12 a qualifier will be played on the South Course at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert.
On April 27, a qualifier will be played at Rams Hills Golf Club in Borrego Springs.
Each qualifier features approximately 90 golfers, with the top five golfers advancing to sectional play in June, Each local event also will identify two alternates. The sectional qualifier in California will be played at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento.
Entry forms for professionals or low-handicap amateurs are available at USGA.org.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Road to the U.S. Open will again have five local qualifiers in the desert
Reporting by Larry Bohannan, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
