UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kevin Foley, a former member of the Penn State men's golf team, was added to the field for the 116th U.S. Open, to be held June 16-19 at Oakmont Country Club in suburban Pittsburgh. He joins fellow Penn State alumnus T.J. Howe, who earned a spot in the field through qualifying play.
Foley, a native of Somerville, New Jersey, is competing in his first U.S. Open. He was the first alternate from the Summit, New Jersey, sectional. Foley, who is one of 27 players who advanced to this year's U.S. Open through both local and sectional qualifying, won the 2013 Panama Claro Championship on the Web.com Tour. He played in the Web.com Tour in 2012-14, earning his PGA Tour status in 2014-15.
"The Open stage is big, but Kevin has the experience, composure and game to compete at a very high level this week," said Greg Nye, head coach of the Penn State men's golf team. "Having two Nittany Lions qualify into the U.S. Open is special in its own right, but having them both do it in a year where it's played in Pennsylvania makes it even more exciting."
A 2010 Penn State graduate, Foley was a three-time All-American and one of four Nittany Lions to be named to the All-Region team each year of his career. He earned the 2006-07 Big Ten Freshman of the Year honor and is the program's only three-time All-Big Ten selection.
Foley also holds the Penn State record for most tournament championships with six, while earning 16 top-10 finishes and 20 top-25 finishes during his four years in University Park.
Foley will tee off in the first round at 8:46 a.m. Thursday on the 10th hole, while Howe will start on the first hole at 2:42 p.m.
"It is an absolute thrill for all the people that know our program here at Penn State to see both Kevin and T.J. competing in the U.S. Open," Nye said. "These guys are both as Blue and White as it gets."
The first and second rounds will be broadcast on FoxSports1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, with the third and final rounds moving to network coverage on Fox beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Two other current and former Nittany Lions narrowly missed the cut during U.S. Open sectional qualifying, and an incoming Penn Stater also participated.
Cole Miller, of New Tripoli, a rising junior at Penn State, and May graduate JD Dornes, of Lancaster, both shot 4-under 140 at the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, to tie for seventh. Only three of the 55 competitors at Woodmont advanced to the U.S. Open, with the last two qualifiers shooting 6-under.
Also playing in Rockville was J.D. Hughes, of Carlisle, a transfer who will be a sophomore at Penn State in 2016-17. Hughes shot a 5-over 149 during U.S. sectional qualifying.