Former Golfer Matt Edwards Qualifies for U.S. Open

Las Cruces, N.M. ? Former NM State men?s golfer Matt Edwards qualified for the PGA?s 2011 U.S. Open, June 6, at a sectional qualifier at the Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, Calif. Edwards qualified with a two-round score of 5-under par, 137 tying for first overall. He will now tee it up at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., June 13-15.

?For me it?s surreal because I?ll be playing against golfers that I watch on TV but I?m more excited for the opportunity to play with the best in the world and the experience,? Edwards said. ?I played my last three years at NM State and we won two WAC titles. Coach (Scott) Lieberwirth really helped me during my time there by teaching me how to manage the golf course and my round and those two things will be put to the test at the Open. I?m proud to be representing New Mexico State and proud to be an Aggie.?

Edwards, a Henderson, Nev., native tied for first overall in the sectional qualifier with rounds of 4-under par, 67 and 1-under par, 70, tallying 11 birdies and 20 pars in his two rounds, with just four bogeys.

?I played really well in both rounds,? Edwards said. ?I tried to keep it below the pin as much as possible and really most of the putts I made were either a foot from the hole or I was making season-long putts from above the pin. I played a good first round and was in real good shape after the first nine of round two. On the back nine I struggled a little and I thought I had shot myself out of the Open but when I got in I saw I was tied for first.?

Edwards was the first Aggie golfer to win the WAC individual title at the 2006 WAC Championships. He also earned All-WAC honors in 2006 and 2008 and was part for two WAC Championship teams, including the school?s first WAC Championship team in any sport in 2006.

Source: NMSU Athletics