University of Cincinnati rising senior golfer Austin Squires (Union, Ky./Ryle High School) took his first step toward participating in the 2018 U.S. Open Championship on Wednesday, with a strong showing at a local qualifier at Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Squires shot a 7-under par 65 to tie for second place in the 78-player field, to become one of five players to advance to a 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier June 4.
The United States Golf Association is conducting 114 18-hole local qualifiers across the country and one site in Canada. In all, 8,537 golfers are competing for 500 sectional qualifier invitations through May 17.