Golf: Scheinblum qualifies for U.S. Open sectionals

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - Monte Scheinblum of Newport Coast shot 2-under 69

in a U.S. Open local qualifier Wednesday at Newport Beach Country Club

and advanced to the next level -- one step away from the 102nd U.S. Open

Championship June 13-16 at Bethpage State Park (Black Course) in

Farmingdale, N.Y.

It was the third year in a row that Newport Beach has hosted a local

U.S. Open qualifier. Seven players advanced out of 95 golfers.

Dan Buchner of Los Angeles was the medalist at 7-under 64, followed by

Mike Fergin of Tustin at 68. Fergin won the now-defunct Newport Beach

Open in a playoff last year at Newport Beach Country Club.

Scheinblum and six others advanced to the U.S. Open sectional

qualifier June 3 at Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City.

Ted Norby of Carlsbad, the nontournament Newport Beach course-record

holder at 61, earned an alternate spot in the qualifier after carding 70.

Norby, a former UC Irvine standout, broke Hale Irwin’s course record

last September in a round. But Irwin still holds the tournament course

record of 62, set in the final round of the 1998 Toshiba Senior Classic,

which Irwin won.

Newport Beach’s Eric Woods, a golf pro who played with Norby the day

he shot 61, did not advance with a 72.