Caddie Alex Gaugert Makes a Run for 2024 U.S. Open Spot at Final Qualifying
RIDGEWAY, Ontario — Following his caddying duties at the RBC Canadian Open for Erik van Rooyen, Alex Gaugert swiftly transitioned back to the golf course, this time not as a caddie but as a competitor in the U.S. Open Final Qualifying.
Reflecting on van Rooyen’s game, Gaugert’s brother, Austin, who served as his caddie, mentioned, “He missed a couple of short putts but made a couple of bombs. He hit a tee shot on the par-5 on the back nine and said I was right, so, he’s not a Tour player yet.”
Having played competitively at the University of Minnesota and even Monday qualified for the 3M Open last summer, Alex displayed his competitive edge by carding a solid 4-under 67 in the first of two rounds at Cherry Hill Club. This performance positioned him at T-10. With sixty-six players vying for seven spots into the U.S. Open, scheduled to begin next Thursday at Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 Course in North Carolina, the competition was intense.
Gaugert had previously shot 69, sharing the medalist honor at local qualifying at the Country Club of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on May 6. Despite minimal practice rounds leading up to the Final Qualifying, Gaugert expressed a curious observation, stating, “For some reason, the less I play, the better I score.”
While his boss, van Rooyen, had already secured a spot in the U.S. Open field, Gaugert’s fate remained uncertain. Should van Rooyen qualify for Pinehurst, Gaugert mentioned that his brother might either caddie for him or simply withdraw, emphasizing his interest in the unfolding events.
On a sunny day at the Walter Travis layout, PGA Tour professionals dominated the leaderboard. Davis Thompson led with an impressive 8-under 63, closely followed by Greyson Sigg and Mark Hubbard, who carded 64s. Canadian Adam Svensson, Scotland’s Martin Laird, and reigning Canadian Amateur champion Ashton McCulloch were among those who also posted strong rounds, shooting 65.
