Nine players seal US Open spots at Walton Heath

Grant Forrest, Richard Mansell and Brandon Robinson-Thompson shared medallist honours as they secured their places in next month’s US Open via Final Qualifying at Walton Heath.

The trio shared top spot on ten-under-par after 36 holes at the Surrey course, with each competitor playing one round on each of the Old and New Courses.

Nine places were available for the third men’s major of the year.

Robinson-Thompson was the first of the those to reach ten-under and will make his US Open debut at Pinehurst, less than a year after playing in his first major at The 151st Open at Hoylake.

The Englishman, who is now based in the United States, followed up his first round 68 with a six-under 66.

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“It’s going to be incredible,” said Robinson-Thompson. “I’m going to have a lot of people there, I hope. It’s going to be awesome.

“I feel like it’s meant to be. I got my visa and then got married in November. Six months later and I’m going to be flying home and seeing my wife early.

“I was supposed to see her in six or seven weeks’ time, so I’ll get to see her early. I hope I do get those people come, because I know so many people there.

“Playing in big tournaments on the biggest stage and having people you know (watching you), it’s the best feeling ever.”

Robinson-Thompson was joined on ten-under by compatriot Richard Mansell, who made his US Open debut in 2022, and Scotland’s Forrest, who will be playing in his first US Open.

Robert Rock, who stepped back from playing on the DP World Tour after the 2022 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, made a remarkable comeback as he carded rounds of 69-66 to finish on nine-under and punch his ticket for Pinehurst.

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“It’s difficult to describe,” said the two-time DP World Tour winner. “I really didn’t have any thoughts of qualifying. I thought it was my last chance of playing this event and a good opportunity to see where my game was having been out of it for a couple of years.

“I thought while I could still enter, I’d see where I’d fit. I played with James Morrison and had such a good day.”

Rock was joined on nine-under number by Sam Bairstow, who holed a nervy seven-footer for par on the 36th hole to sign for rounds of 68-67, avoiding the prospect of a play-off.

Also securing their spots for the Italian pair of Matteo Manassero and Edoardo Molinari, Northern Irishman Tom McKibbin and Australian Jason Scrivener.

A play-off was eventually required to decide the two alternate spots available. Five competitors finished on seven-under, with Casey Jarvis and Andrea Pavan earning the alternate spots after four extra holes.