US Open golf: Germishuys, Nienaber qualify

Deon Germishuys will make his Major Championship debut at next month’s US Open after winning Final Qualifying at Walton Heath Golf Club.

It’s quite the achievement for Germishuys, who is playing his rookie season on the DP World Tour.

Germishuys starts well on tour

The South African, who graduated from the European Challenge Tour last year by finishing 20th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, followed an opening six-under 66 with a 68 to post a ten under total.

That saw him finish one stroke clear of countryman Wilco Nienaber, 2010 Ryder Cup player Ross Fisher and four-time DP World Tour winner David Horsey.

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Also sealing one of the seven spots on offer into the field at Los Angeles Country Club were Sweden’s Jens Dantorp, Alejandro Del Rey of Spain and France’s Matthieu Pavon, who has now qualified for the U.S. Open via Final Qualifying at Walton Heath for the third time.

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The 36-hole qualifying event was taking place at the Surrey venue for the first time since 2019, with a field of 84 players competing.

Playing on the New Course in the morning, Germishuys made five birdies in his opening eight holes before back-to-back bogeys around the turn set him back.

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But the 24-year-old bounced back with an eagle at the par-five 13th before a further birdie saw him post a 66.

After a steady start on the Old Course in afternoon, he came to life on the back nine with four birdies in his final seven holes to top the leaderboard.

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“It is going to be my first Major so I am really excited for that,” Germishuys said.

“I haven’t been to the US in four years so I am excited to go back and play some golf again.”

Nienaber fires way to US Open

Nienaber, who finished in a tie for second at the Abu Dhabi Challenge last month, will make his second Major appearance after following a 69 with a 66 to also post a nine under total.

“I have definitely been making progress, big improvements in my game,” said the South African

“It is quite nice to see that it is starting to pay off.

“You dream about playing in Majors and to have this as my second one is really cool.”

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