Ryan Leahey of Orange shot a 7-under 135 total for 36 holes at New Haven Country Club to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Monday.
Leahey, 26, shot a 65 in the second round to gain a spot in the tournament Aug. 22-28 at Erin Hills and Blue Mound Golf and Country Club in Wauwatosa, Wisc.
It was an emotional win for Leahey,who missed his grandmother's funeral in order to play. "I talked with my aunt and my parents and we all agreed that my grandmother would have wanted me to play," Leahey said. "It was a little tough not being there (at the funeral)."
Spencer Cole of Greenville, S.C. shot 5-under 137 to grab the other spot. He was in the final group of the day and had to endure a two-hour lightning and torrential downpour delay to finish. He had been an alternate twice before.
Bernie D'Amato, the 2009 state amateur champion, played with Leahey and shot 4-under 138. He, too, waited out the storm and watched as Cole made him a first alternate.