Three area golfers claim U.S. Amateur qualifying spots

Three of the region’s top amateurs came up big in U.S. Amateur qualifying tournaments.

University of Idaho’s Sophie Hausmann, former Washington State Cougar Derek Bayley and Spokane’s Eric Ansett, who played on Ferris High’s team, have earned spots in their respective U.S. Amateur tournaments.

Hausmann, a rising senior, fired a 3-under-par 69 to finish in a four-way tie for first Wednesday at the Country Club at DC Ranch in Scottsdale, Arizona.

No playoff was necessary with four qualifying spots on the line.

Hausmann, with her mom, Katrin, caddying, eagled the par-5 first hole and made the turn in 4-under 32.

Hausmann bounced back from a double bogey on No. 14 with a birdie on No. 17, her fifth of the round.

Hausmann, a two-time Big Sky Conference Tournament champion, flew in from her native Germany for the qualifier.

She’ll tee it up with 155 others at the U.S. Women’s Amateur at the Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs.

There are two rounds of stroke play Aug. 6-7. Match play in the round of 64 begins Aug. 8.

Six weeks ago, Hausmann became the first Vandal to play in the U.S. Open.

Ansett, a graduate of The Oaks Academy who played at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, was medalist at a men’s qualifier Monday in Decatur, Alabama.

Ansett had 10 birdies and an eagle while shooting a pair of 67s for an 8-under 134 at the 7,084-yard Burningtree Country Club.

There were two spots available in the qualifier. Tanner Owens of Old Hickory, Tennessee, grabbed the second berth with a 5-under 137.

Ansett earned a trip to the U.S. Amateur from Aug. 13-19 at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.

Ansett is playing in the Southern Amateur in Bowling Green, Kentucky, this week and the Pacific Coast Amateur in San Francisco next week.

Bayley was the medalist at a qualifier Wednesday at Palouse Ridge, his home course during his WSU career.

Bayley, three days removed from winning the Rosauers Open Invitational, made 11 birdies while shooting 8-under 64 in his opening round to take a four-stroke lead.

The Lakeland High product closed with a 2-over 74 for a one-shot win over former Western Washington University golfer Chris Hatch (70-69), who also qualified. The second alternate is Grant Cole of Pullman.

This will be Bayley’s first U.S. Amateur. He has played in the U.S. Junior Amateur.