U.S. Open qualifier shifts to TPC Summerlin

Local qualifying for the 2013 U.S. Open has a new home but a lot of familiar faces, as TPC Summerlin hosts 96 golfers Monday, including several current and former UNLV players.

The qualifier, which had been contested at Dragon Ridge the past few years, was moved to TPC Summerlin as the Southern Nevada Golf Association looks to establish a rotation of local courses for the competition.

The top six from the local qualifier advance to sectional play. Those who win the sectional will earn a spot in the field for the U.S. Open on June 13-16 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

The Las Vegas regional includes Derek Ernst, the former UNLV standout who won his first PGA Tour event May 5 at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C.

Ernst still had to go through the entire qualifying process for the U.S. Open. Had he won prior to the closing of entries April 24, he would have automatically advanced to one of the 13 sectional qualifying sites.

Ernst will play the Memphis sectional should he advance from today’s competition.

Joining Ernst are former Rebels Andres Gonzales and Blake Biddle along with current Rebels Kurt Kitayama, Carl Jonson and Nicholas Maruri.

Other notables in the field are Bob May, Craig Barlow, Brady Exber and 2011 Nevada Open champion Drew Scott.

Play begins at 7 a.m. Admission is free.