by Cliff
26. May 2009 01:04
May 1 (Reuters)
A record 9,086 entries have been received for the U.S. Open at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale.
The number of applicants for the June 18-21 tournament in New York eclipses the previous mark of 9,048 for the 2005 edition at Pinehurst in North Carolina, the United States Golf Association (USGA) said in a statement on Friday.
"One of the very positive things we are seeing is increased participation of quality foreign players ... due to our expanded ties with the European and various Asian tours," USGA senior director of rules and competitions Mike Davis said.
To be eligible to enter the U.S. Open, the second of the year's four majors, a player must be a professional or have a handicap of 1.4 or better.
The youngest applicant this year is 13-year-old Matthew Lowe of Farmingdale while the oldest is 78-year-old Ordean Olson of Hollywood, Florida.
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