U.S. OPEN LOCAL QUALIFYING MEET STORY - MNGOLF.ORG
U.S. OPEN LOCAL QUALIFYING RESULTS

RAMSEY, Minn. -- Augsburg College men's and women's golf coach Eric Rolland '97 advanced to sectional qualifying for the 2015 U.S. Open golf tournament, finishing in second place with a 1-under-par 71 at a local qualifying tournament on Thursday at the Links at Northfork.

Rolland finished in second in the 78-golfer, 18-hole local qualifying tournament, advancing to 36-hole sectional qualifying, to be held at one of 10 courses around the country on June 8. The final field of 156 players will compete in the 115th U.S. Open, to be held June 18-21 at Chambers Bay Golf Club in University Place, Wash.

Rolland collected four birdies against one bogey and a double-bogey for his 1-under-par 71 round on Thursday, finishing second behind former Univeristy of Minnesota golfer Robert Bell's 3-under-par 69.

"It was fun. I'm fortunate because this is sort of my home away from home -- I live nearby and I worked here so I know all the bumps," Rolland said in a story on the Minnesota Golf Association website. "Today, there was a northwest wind which changes this golf course significantly from the way people are accustomed to playing it, so I knew the shots I needed to make."

An All-American golfer during his playing days at Augsburg, Rolland is in his second season as the Auggies' men's and women's golf head coach. He earned All-MIAC honors twice in his career and competed in three NCAA Division III national tournaments. In addition to his coaching duties at Augsburg, he serves as director of player development and assistant professional at Woodhill Country Club in Wayzata, Minn.