UK Former Golfers Holmes and Parker to Play in US Open

Former Kentucky men’s golfers J.B. Holmes and Chase Parker are among the field for the 116th U.S. Open Championship being held this year at the Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh, Pa., June 16-19.
Holmes, currently ranked No. 19 in the world, will compete in the seventh U.S. Open of his career. His best finish came in 2014 when he tied for 17th overall. Holmes has four career PGA Tour victories and has suited up for the 2005 USA Walker Cup Team, 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup Team and the 2015 U.S. President’s Cup Team.
Parker who has been playing in professional mini-tours since wrapping up a four-year career with the Wildcats in 2013, qualified for his first Open Championship beginning with a local qualifier at Secession Golf Club in Beaufort, S.C., with a 66. He then fired a 6-under, 138 at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md., before surviving a 3-for-2 for the last qualifying spot on June 6. He shot 6-under par over his final 13 holes to make it to the playoff.
Oakmont Country Club was founded in 1903 and has hosted 15 USGA Championships, including U.S. Opens in 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994 and 2007.
Holmes will begin his tournament at 8:02 a.m. on Thursday off of the No. 1 tee. He is paired with Rafa Cabrera Bello and Kevin Chappell. Parker won’t be far behind with a tee time of 8:57 a.m. from the No. 1 tee. He will play with Ryan Stachler and Patrick Wilkes-Krier.
Fox Sports 1 will carry live action from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with Fox picking up coverage from 5-8 p.m. on Thursday.
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s golf team, follow @UKMensGolf on Twitter and on the web at UKathletics.com.
by Deb Moore
University of Kentucky