Notable Michigan Players In Monday’s US Open Qualifiers

Notable Michigan Players In Monday’s US Open Qualifiers

Final 2023 US Open qualifying is Monday, June 5 at nine sites around the United States and one in the US

Several Michiganders of note are playing:

• PJ Maybank of Cheboygan
• Willie Mack III of Flint
• Ryan Brehm of Mount Pleasant
• Brian Stuard of Jackson
• Jay Jurecic of Caspian

All are playing at Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ohio, competing against 78 others for a number of spots to be determined.

Profiles below:

PJ Maybank of Cheboygan

PJ Maybank, 18, of Cheboygan, Mich., was the medalist in local qualifying at Muskegon (Mich.) Country Club on May 1. Maybank has been on a tear this spring. He won the Azalea Invitational by 11 strokes at the Country Club of Charleston (S.C.) and tied for second in the Terra Cotta Invitational. Maybank, who won Michigan’s Division III state high school title in 2021, will attend the University of Oklahoma in the fall. He captured the Drive, Chip & Putt national championship (age 12-13 division) in 2018.

Willie Mack III of Flint

Willie Mack III, 34, of Flint, Mich., was the medalist with a 65 that included eight birdies in the Orlando, Fla., local qualifier on May 15 at Shingle Creek Golf Club. Mack, who now has full status on the Korn Ferry Tour, has recorded more than 70 wins on mini-tours and the Advocates Professional Golf Association Tour, where he won three tournaments in 2022. Mack, who played at Bethune-Cookman University, once lived out of his car early in his professional career.

Ryan Brehm of Mount Pleasant

Ryan Brehm, 37, of Mount Pleasant, Mich., advanced through the Springfield, Ohio, qualifier to his lone U.S. Open in 2017. He finished 53rd at Erin Hills. Brehm won the 2022 Puerto Rico Open, his first PGA Tour victory, with his wife, Chelsey, serving as caddie. Brehm, who won twice on the Korn Ferry Tour, played at Michigan State University and later was an MSU assistant coach.

Brian Stuard of Jackson

Brian Stuard, 40, of Jackson, Mich., has played in seven U.S. Opens and advanced to the championship through the Springfield, Ohio, final qualifier each time. He was the medalist in 2013, 2014 and 2019. He shot 68-65 last year and was one of eight players to move forward from Springfield to The Country Club. Stuard won the PGA Tour’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans in a playoff in 2016.

Jay Jurecic of Caspian

Jay Jurecic, 52, of Caspian, Mich., was a sixth- and seventh-grade math teacher at West Iron County Public Schools for 21 years. He gave up that career to chase his golf dream. Jurecic, who did not play at the high school or college levels, competed on mini-tours in the summers when school was out of session and once took a sabbatical from teaching. He was one of seven players to advance from the Stockbridge, Ga., local qualifier on May 1 after he carded a 2-under 68 at Eagle’s Landing Country Club.