Dallas dreaming: How Kanturk's Paul Buckley finds himself on the cusp of US Open

Kanturk's Paul Buckley is preparing for the final stage of US Open qualifying

DALLAS DREAMER: Kanturk’s Paul Buckley tees it up today in Texas with a US Open spot at Torrey Pines the prize for his Monday best. Picture: Niall O’Shea

As the hype of the Walker Cup fades and the impressive performances of Mark Power and John Murphy go down as another successful Irish contribution, another amateur from these parts is on the cusp of something big.

Paul Buckley, a 38-year-old from Kanturk, is about to battle it out for a place in the US Open, at Torrey Pines. On May 3, he made it through the first stage of qualification by scoring 68 (three under) at Escondido Golf & Lake Club, in Texas, to tie for sixth place.