Phelan closing on US Open place again

WATERFORD CASTLE amateur Kevin Phelan is on course to qualify for the US Open for the second year in a row.

The 20-year-old scholarship student at the University of North Florida was one of just four players to advance to the US Open final qualifying stage when he finished second in a controversial local qualifier at Sawgrass.

Amateur Sean Dale of Jacksonville shot a three-under-69 to lead the qualifiers by a shot from Phelan but could lose out if the USGA rules that he used a nonconforming wedge on two shots during his round.