Scot just misses out on US Open after carding sensational 62 in qualifier

Playing in one of ten final qualifiers on the so-called ‘Golf’s Longest Day’, California-based Shiels Dongean opened with a level-par 70 at Gaston Country Club in North Carolina.

The 19-year-old University of North Carolina player, who was among three Scots in last year’s Great Britain & Ireland said in the Walker Cup, then produced one of the best rounds of the entire day at any of the venues in the afternoon circuit.

In a battle for just five spots, he followed a burst of four straight birdies from the second hole with an eagle at the par-5 seventh to reach the turn in 29.

He then birdied the 11th and 13th to move to eight under for the round before closing with five straight pars for a sensational 62.

Shiels Donegan then faced a lengthy wait to see if his eight-under-par total would be good enough to progress before discovering that he’d come up short.

American amateur Jackson Ormond and China’s Carl Yuan led the qualifiers there on 12 under while the other three spots went to US trio Brandon Yu, Jackson Van Paris and Cole Hammer on 11 under.

Canadian picked up his marker by mistake

Two alternate spots, meanwhile, were secured by American Harry Higgs and Chile’s Cristobal Del Solar on ten under.

England’s John Parry came through his test at Lambton Golf & Country Club in Canada, where compatriot Matt Wallace claimed the first alternate after Canadian Adam Svensson picked up his marker by mistake in a play-off.

It will be the second year in a row that MacIntyre is the sole Scot in the USGA major, the Oban man having finished runner-up behind JJ Spaun at Oakmont in the 2025 edition.

MacIntyre was also on his own in this year’s Masters and PGA Championship and will be hoping for some company in next month’s 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.