Manatee County plays host to two U.S. Open golf qualifiers

MANATEE -- They are the two oldest surviving golf courses in Manatee County.

Famed architect Donald Ross designed both tracks, which place the emphasis on a player's putting and short game.

And this coming week, both Bradenton Country Club and Sara Bay Country Club will prepare a few lucky golfers that punch their tickets into the summer's United States Opens.

"It's great for Bradenton that the USGA and the people in charge of that feel that these courses are what the (players) need to prepare them for the Open championship," Bradenton Country Club head pro Brian Lake said.

Bradenton Country Club is up first to spotlight the original Ross vision, when the U.S. Women's Open sectional -- one of three in Florida -- is played Monday.

It's a grueling 36-hole, one-day test. Players that earn a qualifying spot in Bradenton advance to July's U.S. Women's Open. Three berths are available out of the 78-player field.

There are several LPGA Tour players that haven't already qualified for the Open in Monday's field. They include former Manatee County resident Jodi Ewart Shadoff.

It's the second consecutive year BCC is hosting the sectional, which will see three of its members (Jennifer Neville, Gianna Tomeo and Alex Wright) attempt to qualify. Last year's medalist, University of Arkansas senior Regina Plasencia is also in the field this season.

Owing to the difficulty of the course, Bradenton Coun

try Club's design and focus on putting and the short game lends itself as a prime preparation for the Open.

"Hitting the ball in the right spot on the greens and making putts, and that's what the Open courses are all set up to be," Lake said. "Precision and control of your ball, so that's what they're going to find by playing out here."

Meanwhile, Sara Bay follows the action at Bradenton Country Club with Tuesday's U.S. Open local qualifier for the men.

In 2015, the local qualifier was held at TPC Prestancia in Sarasota with West Florida Golf Tour players snagging four of the five berths up for grabs.

This year, though?

Only one berth is available among the 84 players navigating Sara Bay.

"I think people just can't go out and start firing at (pins) saying, 'Hey, I'm going to either shoot 66 or I'm going to shoot 86," Sara Bay head pro Daren King said.

Both qualifiers are open to spectators to watch. Those that make it to Sara Bay on Tuesday will see a different setup than last month's Guardian Retirement Championship played on the LPGA Symetra Tour.

The tees are moved well back, roughly five paces from the tips on every hole. That equates to 90 yards from the maximum the course can play.

Plus, the pin positions will differ in an additional effort to prepare golfers for the U.S. Open, scheduled for Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. in June.

"I think when (the FSGA) sets up a golf course, I think they look at the future," King said. "Is this person capable of moving on? If he is, is he capable of making it and playing at Oakmont."

Professionals from the WFGT and other tours as well as amateurs will battle it out for the lone qualifying berth into the sectional stage, which is held at multiple sites across the nation. Only one sectional qualifier is held in Florida: June 6, at Jacksonville's Timuquana Country Club.

Jason Dill, sports reporter, can be reached at 745-7017 or via email at jdill@bradenton.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jason__Dill and like his Facebook page at Jason Dill Bradenton Herald.

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee County plays host to two U.S. Open golf qualifiers ."