STOCKBRIDGE — Eric Mabee teed off at 8:50 Monday morning. When his round was over, the head professional at the Country Club of Pittsfield had to wait to see if he had done enough to advance in the U.S. Open qualifier at Stockbridge Golf Club.
Good things come to those who wait.
Mabee shot a 1-under-par 69 to share medalist honors and is one of three golfers who moved up to a sectional qualifier for the U.S. Open. The sectional qualifiers are June 4, and those who qualify will find out later where they will play. Eventually, the best of the golfers will go to Long Island for the U.S. Open, which will be played at Shinnecock Hills on June 11-17.
“They have good food, so it was okay waiting around,” Mabee said with a smile. “It’s okay waiting when it holds out.”
Josh Hillman, the head professional at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, earned a second alternate position after winning a playoff.
Mabee and Chelso Barrett from Henniker, New Hampshire, shared medalist honors to earn two of the three berths in the sectional qualifier. Sean Gaudette, a former high school player at South Hadley and Hopkins Academy, made the turn in 1-over-par 37, but managed only one birdie on the back nine to finish third.
“The course is pretty straightforward,” Gaudette said referring to Stockbridge. “There are a few spots where you have to be careful what you’re doing. As long as you kind of keep it in smart spots, it’s not too difficult.”
Mabee has qualified for the first time, after being an alternate in 2012.
“It’s time to go,” Mabee said, when asked about moving on. “It’s time to play. That’s what we play for. That’s why you come to the qualifier to get through. You know you have to win these things to eventually get through.”
Patrick Forbes of Toronto shot 1-over-71 and was the first alternate. Hillman was one of six golfers to shoot 72. He earned second alternate in a playoff.
Gaudette played for North Adams native Rick Berger at Hopkins Academy. He was a three-time Western Mass. individuals champion and was the state champion in Division 3 in 2009.
Gaudette turned pro after graduating from Yale, tried to make the PGA Tour for three years, and is now in the process of getting his amateur status back.
The former Yale Bulldog started off with par-bogey-bogey before making up one stroke with a birdie on the par-4 sixth hole. Gaudette made the turn in 1-over 37. On the back nine, he birdied the par-3 11th, and shot nothing but pars the rest of the way. That gave him a 70, which was good enough to advance.
“I have not made it through locals. I’ve been close a few times,” he said. “It’s a tough thing to get through. You have to be sharp. There aren’t a lot of spots available, so it’s definitely pretty exciting.”