PRESTO — Local Qualifying for the 126th U.S. Open Championship will begin Tuesday at The Club at Nevillewood in Presto.
The qualifying round signals the start of the competition season in Western Pennsylvania and is the first of nine USGA national championship qualifying events to be held in the region in 2026.
84 players are set to compete in the first stage of qualifying for the 126th U.S. Open, set to be contested in June at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southhampton, New York.
Five players will qualify for the Final Qualifying stage, with a pair of alternate spots up for grabs, as well.
Included in the field at Nevillewood are several accomplished local players.
The last two WPGA Players of the Year, Nathan Piatt and Darin Kowalski, will play in a group together.
Several current collegiate players, such as West Virginia’s Nick Turowski, Robert Morris’ Connor McKenzie and Chuck Tragesser, Youngstown State’s Nolan Shilling and several more will be in the field.
Also included will be a number of high school standouts. Reigning WPGA Junior Player of the Year and Notre Dame commit Michael Quallich, as well as WPGA Williamson Cup teammates in Penn State recruit Carson Kittsley and Ty Hartman, will all compete, as well. Jack Sacriponte, a Youngstown State commit who, like Kittsley and Quallich, represent Team Pennsylvania, will tee off at 10:27 a.m.
Decorated senior amateur Rick Stimmel, who has claimed both the WPGA Men’s and Senior Player of the Year recognition in recent years, will be in the field, as will Austin Lemieux, son of former Pittsburgh Penguins legend Mario Lemieux. Many other top amateurs and professionals from the region and beyond will look to continue their journey towards Shinnecock Hills.
Starting times will run from 8:30 a.m. until 10:27 a.m. from both the first and 10th tees.
The USGA received 10,201 entires for this year's U.S. Open, the second-most in recorded history behind the 125th U.S. Open, played at Oakmont Country Club last summer. Players from all 50 states and 49 foreign countries applied to compete, with ages ranging from 13 to 71 hoping to punch a ticket to golf's national championship.
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
