Barbin Brothers Advance to U.S. Open Sectionals

Rising Sun, MD. (May 10, 2019) – In a feat that is rare in golf, brothers Zachary and Austin Barbin of Elkton, Maryland are both just one round away from competing in the prestigious 119th U.S. Open Championship that will be held at Pebble Beach Golf Links in June. Both brothers play out of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club in Rising Sun, Maryland.

In the Local U.S. Open Qualifying, there are 8,602 professional and amateur golfers signed up to compete for 500 spots across the country to advance to Sectional Qualifying. Not only do the odds make it difficult for any golfer to qualify, it is rare that two brothers both advance to compete at this high level. The Sectional qualifying is the final stage for U.S. Open hopefuls and will be held at a total of 12 locations in the U.S.A., Japan, England and Canada. Those that succeed move on to the 119th U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Pebble Beach, California, June 10-16, 2019.

The journey for Austin Barbin began on May 2, 2019 when he shot a 2-under par 69 at the U.S. Open Local Qualifier at Hillendale Country Club in Phoenix, Maryland to capture the 3rd qualifying spot and advance to the U.S. Open Sectionals at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland on June 3, 2019.

Austin was in a 3-for-1 playoff with Joey Lane and David Kocher – both tour Professionals on the PGA China Tour. Both Barbin and Kocher make par on the first hole (Hole #1, Par 5), with Lane making a bogey to become the 2nd alternate.

On the second playoff hole (Hole #9, Par 4), both Barbin and Kocher make par on this difficult par 4. On the final playoff hole, 196 yard Hole #3, Par 3, Barbin hits a 7 iron to 20 feet and two putts for the win. Kocher is 1st alternate.

Austin is an 18 year old senior at Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Delaware, and will be attending and playing golf for the University of Maryland in the Fall.

On May 6, 2019, Zachary Barbin shot an even par 71 at the 2019 U.S. Open Local Qualifier at Makefield Highlands Golf Club in Yardley, Pennsylvania to clinch a qualifying spot and advance to the U.S. Open Sectionals at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland on June 3, 2019.

Zach finished tied for 3rd place with Christopher Ault of Yardley, PA out of a field of 80 players. Ryan Dornes of Lancaster, PA led the tournament at 68, Carey Bina of Villanova, PA carded 70, and Jeremy Wall of Brielle, NJ won the 5-for-1 first playoff hole with a birdie to land the fifth qualifying spot.

Zach just completed his sophomore year at Liberty University where he is a member of the golf team. Liberty’s Men’s Golf Team finished the year nationally ranked #19 (NCAA D1 Team Rank golfstat.com) and is the #4 seed at the 2019 NCAA Division 1 Men’s Golf Championships Regional in Athens, Georgia May 13-15, 2019. The top five teams from each of the six NCAA Regionals will advance to the 2019 NCAA Men’s Golf Championship at The Blessings Golf Course in Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 24-29, 2019.

Chesapeake Bay Golf Club (formerly Chantilly Manor Country Club) was established in 1969 and the course is celebrating 50 years as the premier golf course in the region.