DALLAS -- Zack Fischer had to play 66 holes of qualifying to make his first U.S. Open.
Fischer began his journey with an 18-hole local qualifier in May, followed by a 36-hole qualifier at Lakewood Country Club. He was tied with three-time PGA Tour winner Ryan Palmer for the last spot, and they went 12 holes of a playoff until it was too dark to continue. Fischer made a 12-foot birdie putt on the 12th extra hole, No. 18, Tuesday morning to get a spot at Merion next week.
Fischer joins Jordan Spieth, Matt Weibring and Ed Loar as U.S. Open qualifiers out of the Dallas sectional.
"It was really exhausting," Fischer said, according to media reports out of Texas. "I was really restless last night because I knew I had to come back out here. All these emotions are running through me. I've got adrenaline going; that's pretty much what I'm running on right now."
The Florida qualifier also didn't finish Monday because of darkness. Club pro John Nieporte birdied the first hole of a playoff to earn a U.S. Open berth over 15-year-old David Snyder.
"Congratulations to my head pro of Trump International Golf Club (Florida) John Nieporte for qualifying for the U.S. Open!" Donald Trump said on Twitter.
The field now is at 150 players. Six more will come from the world ranking Sunday and then the alternate list.
The U.S. Open will be contested June 13-16 at Merion Golf Club outside of Philadelphia.
Information from The Associated Press was included in this report.
