Lowry stays in groove to secure place at Pinehurst

A day after finishing runner-up at Wentworth to his good friend Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry celebrated topping the list of US Open qualifiers on a cold, wet and miserable day at Walton Heath.

Lowry had been unaware victory in the BMW PGA Championship would have seen him head straight to Pinehurst but he was delighted to do it the ‘hard way’, posting rounds of 67 and a 69 that included a bizarre third-hole eagle, to head the list of 14 qualifiers on eight under par.

It is the second time in five attempts the 26-year old Clara native has won through to a US Open and he now joins McIlroy, Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke in the June 15-commencing Major.