Former, current WVU golfers among top qualifiers at U.S. Open Local
By Josh Rowntree, Director of Communications • May 13, 2025
MIDWAY — There isn’t a competitive golfer in the country who doesn’t dream about a chance to play in a U.S. Open.
But for Western Pennsylvanian’s this year, it’s a dream that hits close to home.
On Tuesday, five players — including four hailing from WPGA jurisdiction — qualified into the Final Qualifying stage for the 125th U.S. Open, set to be contested a month from now at Oakmont Country Club.
Greensburg’s Mark Goetz shared co-Low Scorer honors with State College native Timothy Peters, as the duo shot 3-under scores of 69 in Tuesday’s Local Qualifying at Quicksilver Golf Club.
Goetz, a current member of the Korn Ferry Tour, has been angling for a chance to get back to a competitive round since finishing with Medalist honors at the 2021 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont.
“I think it’s in the back of my mind and the minds of a lot of the juniors around here, my friends in college or friends who have now turned pro,” said Goetz, who starred at the Kiski School before becoming West Virginia University’s first All-American golfer. “It’s like the crown jewel to be able to play that one. It’s always on our minds.”
Peters, meanwhile, is just finishing up his sophomore year at Millersville University, already compiling a tremendous career in the PSAC as one of the conference’s best athletes regardless of sport.
“I’ve played a lot of tournaments this spring with college golf,” said Peters, who played his first-ever U.S. Open qualifier Tuesday. “So, coming in here, I wasn’t really too nervous. This is a fun one to make through. Hopefully I get to go to Oakmont."
At 2-under, Penn-Trafford grad and current West Virginia golfer Nick Turowski used a strong opening nine holes to propel his name toward the top of the leaderboard. Turowski was able to hold on thanks to a solid run of pars to end his day, qualifying alongside pro Randy Dietz, who also shot 70.
“It means a lot to me,” said Turowski, the reigning WPGA Junior Player of the year. “Getting to that next stage in a USGA championship — that’s not only a U.S. Open but a U.S. Open at Oakmont — I mean, I’ve been dreaming about playing in this Open since I watched it in 2016.
“When I watched that, I remember thinking, ‘oh my god, these guys are so good.’ To think that I’m going to the next step, it feels really good.”
Turowski rode ‘good vibes’ at Quicksilver. Despite limited knowledge of the course, he has dominated it compared to much of the recent fields he’s faced. Last summer, he finished with Low Scorer honors at the U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying, earning a trip to the prestigious USGA event.
But this time was different, as the 19-year-old took on a field of pros and top amateurs before rushing to the airport to join the rest of the Mountaineers on a trip to Arizona for a competition.
“I had a great round last year, but that was against a field of junior golfers,” said Turowski, who — like Goetz — is a member at Hannastown Golf Club. “Being a (high school) senior at that time, I felt like the top dog. That gave me confidence. But stepping up here today, against professional golfers… you’re skipping a step. I didn’t want to think about it and just focus on what I can control.”
After posting a bogey on his 17th hole of the day, Dietz — the second-oldest player in the field — was able to birdie the ninth hole at Quicksilver to get a secure spot in the field.
Behind him, Erie native and Notre Dame alum Patrick Kelly survived a bogey on the 18th hole to earn the final qualifying spot at 1-under.
Eight players then battled for alternate spots in an elongated playoff.
Nick Sorkin — a former Pittsburgh Penguins minor leaguer who finished with Low Scorer honors a year ago at Sewickley Heights in the U.S. Open Local Qualifying round — won the top alternate spot. Ryan Smith will be the second alternate.
Sorkin and Smith will now hope that one of the five men in front of them decide not to pursue their dream of becoming a national champion. That’s possible but ultimately seems unlikely for the locals who could — with a successful 36 holes of Final Qualifying golf in the coming weeks — have short drives to play in the 125th U.S. Open.
“Over the years, you only get a couple of chances at it at Oakmont,” said Goetz. “So, you have to give it your best. Give it your all.”
Other notes:
• Current New York Rangers forward J.T. Miller, an East Palestine, Ohio native, shot a 4-over 76 less than a month after his NHL season ended.
• Mike Van Sickle, a successful local professional and Pine-Richland grad who played in the 2016 U.S. Open after earning an alternate position in Qualifying, shot a 4-over 76, as well.
• The field ranged in age from 15 to 47, with players from the United States, Canada, England and Northern Ireland represented.
• A record 10,202 qualifying entries were accepted by the USGA for this year’s U.S. Open, the most ever.
• Local Qualifying players select where they would prefer to play their Final Qualifying rounds, with 13 scheduled throughout the world, including 10 in the United States. Regionally, none will occur in Pennsylvania, but two will be contested in Ohio, as well rounds in Maryland, New Jersey and Ontario, Canada.
For final results, please click here.
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and nearly 37,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund and Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame.