VICTOR, N.Y. — Junior Gus Lascola and sophomore Samuel King of the Cornell golf team have advanced through local qualifying for the 121st United States Open Championship.
 
Competing Monday at Ravenwood Golf Club in suburban Rochester, Lascola and King laid the Big Red's claim to two of the three qualifiers to advance from the field of 47. The event is one of 110 qualifying rounds comprised of more than 9,000 entrants from all over the world.
 
Lascola's 2-under-par 70 was tied for the low round of the day, with his lone bogey of the day coming on the lengthy par-4 opening hole. Consecutive birdies on the downhill par-5 sixth hole and the short par-4 seventh put Lascola in red numbers, then – after rattling off 10 straight pars – a birdie on the par-5 finishing hole
 
The closing birdie gave Lascola the lead in the clubhouse ahead of a pair of 71s. The first belonged to King, who had three birdies on his back nine to post his number about an hour prior.
 
After awaiting the completion of 17 rounds following Lascola's finish, both Cornellians would head to extra holes. King's was far more significant, with a win on the second hole of the playoff securing the third and final qualifying spot on the day. Lascola lost on the first hole of his playoff with Billy Gaffney to decide medalist honors.
 
Lascola and King will learn their respective assignments to one of 11 final qualifying regionals over the coming weeks. The bulk of those 36-hole events will be contested June 7 at sites across Canada and the United States (the closest of which is at Century CC and Old Oaks CC in Purchase).
 
Those who advance through the final round of U.S. Open qualifying will head to the final stage June 17-20 on Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif. Cornell has never before been represented in the final stage of the U.S. Open.