Cullowhee, N.C. – Following the self-proclaimed "Golf's Longest Day" on Monday, June 7, Western Carolina men's golf alum JT Poston has qualified for the 121st U.S. Open for the third time in his career.
 
Poston shot 10-under par with consecutive rounds of 67 at the Lakes Golf & Country Club and Brookside Golf & Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, to finish in a two-way tie for third in his U.S. Open Final Qualifying event in capturing one of the 16 available slots. Poston countered three bogeys with 11 birdies and an eagle over 36 qualifying holes, the first for the U.S. Open since the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The 2021 U.S. Open is scheduled for June 17-20 on the South Course at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif. The course hosted the 2008 U.S. Open Championship and plays up to 7,800 yards following its most recent renovations in 2019.
 
Back in 2017, Poston became the first former Catamount to qualify for the prestigious U.S. Open. He also qualified and played in the event in 2020 at Winged Foot, though an eye injury hampered his performance in his second Open appearance.
 
Originally from Hickory, N.C., and now playing out of St. Simons Island, Ga., Poston was a four-year starter for the Catamount men's golf team. He finished his collegiate career as WCU's all-time career stroke average leader at 71.73, holding the top two single-season scoring averages including a school-record 70.27 in the 2013-14 season and a 71.13 as a senior in 2014-15. Poston garnered the SoCon Men's Golfer of the Year honor in 2014 and was a two-time SoCon Champion, collecting a pair of All-America honors.
 
Poston competed in a school-best three NCAA regional tournaments, and in 2015, became WCU's first men's golfer to advance into the NCAA's championship event.
 
After earning his PGA Tour card in 2017, Poston became the first former Catamount to claim victory on the tour in 2019, winning the Wyndham Championship at the Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro. Along the way to his first tour win, he additionally became the first player since 1974 to win a PGA Tour event while going bogey-free.
 
Before heading West for the 121st U.S. Open, Poston and his caddy Aaron Fleener, are scheduled to compete in this week's PGA Tour stop at the Palmetto Championship at Congaree in South Carolina, just about an hour north of Hilton Head Island.
 
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