Hart Graduate Earns a Spot in U.S. Open

TARZANA — Jason Semelsberger of Newhall, a UCLA freshman and Hart High graduate, led a group of five golfers that qualified for the U.S. Open during Sectional qualifying Monday at El Caballero Country Club.

Semelsberger, 18, shot rounds of even-par 71 and 69 to tie Dennis Trixler, a professional from San Mateo, for medalist honors at two-under 140.

Roger Gunn, the director of instruction at Lindero Country Club in Agoura Hills, tied with Terry Noe of Cal State Long Beach and Joel Kribel from Stanford at 141 for the final three spots. All will play June 12-15 in the U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

PGA Tour pro and NBC commentator Johnny Miller caddied for his son, Andy Miller of Napa, who shot 142 and tied Warren Schutte of Las Vegas. The two earned alternate spots.

Miller’s son bogeyed his last two holes and missed a chance to tie for medalist honors and qualify.

“Every shot, I was the most nervous I’ve ever been,” said Semelsberger, who has not played in a professional tournament before. “But I felt confident on the green and I stayed in the present. I didn’t let outside things influence me.”

Semelsberger also credited his caddie, longtime friend and UCLA teammate Ross Fulgentis, with keeping him loose.

“I can’t tell you how important he was,” Semelsberger said of the Westlake High alum. “He was telling me to swing slow and play one shot at a time, but it was fun. We were joking around a lot out there.”

Gunn, 35, has played the Nike and European tours, but he hasn’t played professionally in four years.

“I’m in utter shock,” he said. “I’ve been playing well lately, which is surprising because I’ve spent the last four years teaching people how to hit the ball in the air, not practicing.”

Semelsberger made three birdie putts on the front nine during his second round--a 35-footer from the fringe at the fourth hole, a 25-footer at the seventh and a 15-footer at the ninth.

A remarkable sand save at the par-three 10th kept his momentum going, and at the 15th he hit his approach to within 18 inches and tapped in for birdie to go to three-under par for the tournament.

He escaped trouble at the 17th when his tee shot strayed left, grazed some trees and ended up landing in the fairway in position for a good approach shot..

“I got some good breaks today,” he said with a smile. “But you have to get those to win.”

Chad Wright, a USC senior and Buena High graduate, got off to a tough start when he hit two shots out of bounds on the par-four second hole and wound up with a nine. He followed with consecutive bogeys at the third and fourth.

But Wright, one of the hottest amateur players in the country, shot five-under par for the rest of the round and finished with a 74. He shot 70 in the afternoon round and missed the final qualifying spot by three strokes.