After missing last year, Jackson Buchanan heads to the US Open

After missing last year, Jackson Buchanan heads to the US Open

Jackson Buchanan has put together an excellent 2023-24 campaign.

And now he's heading to the U.S. Open at Pinehurst.

According to Illinois Athletics, the junior led the team with eight top-10 finishes and tied for the team lead with 12 rounds in the 60s. He won the 2024 Duck Invitational and finished in second place in solo at the Big Ten Championships.

“It was my second time,” Buchanan said of the US Open final qualifier. “There wasn't a lot of pressure the first 18 holes, so I just went out there and tried to enjoy the day. The pressure is nothing compared to the Nationals.

Buchanan added: “I enjoyed the first round, and after I shot 64, I just tried to light it up.”

Buchanan is ranked No. 8 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com world rankings.

Buchanan finished as the medalist at the Golf Club of Georgia's Lakeside Course in Alpharetta, Ga., after shooting 13 under. The Georgia site was a qualifying site filled with the game's top amateurs, including David Ford of North Carolina, Carson Bacha of Auburn and Jackson Koivun of Auburn.

Chris Petefish tied Buchanan for medalist honors at 13 under, and recent Florida State graduate Frederik Kjettrup shot at 12 under to earn the third and final qualifying spot.

“It’s cool,” Buchanan said. “When you look at qualifying and realize these are the best amateurs in the world, you know it's a loaded field. Amateur golf has exploded and the best amateurs are good enough to play with the pros.

Buchanan added: “You know you have to bring it.”

There were three qualifying spots for 68 golfers, and if you didn't shoot 12 under, you didn't earn a spot at Pinehurst.

However, that didn't affect how Buchanan approached his two rounds.

“It’s about staying in the present and hitting the shot you have at hand,” he said.

Last year, in his first attempt at a final qualification, Buchanan made a bogey on the 36th hole to miss out on a spot at the US Open.

“At the end of the day, I remember last year, and experience is everything,” Buchanan said. “It really helped me.”

Additionally, collegiate golfers have a distinct advantage since they often play 36 days of holes throughout the season.

“36-hole days are so common for us that it’s almost weird if we play 18 holes a day,” Buchanan said.

“It's been a long time, but nothing I'm not used to, and playing college golf is 100 percent an advantage,” Buchanan added.

Buchanan also knows what success looks like at Pinehurst, having played on the North and South amateur team last year and shooting a 70 at No. 2. The best score of the day was a 69 from 2023 U.S. Amateur champion and now professional golfer Nick Dunlap.

“If that doesn’t tell you how tough Pinehurst is, I don’t know what does,” Buchanan said with a laugh.

“You have to play a lot on the greens, like Kaymer did in 2014,” Buchanan added. “I’m excited and I love competing, and when you can compete against the best in the world, it makes it even more fun.”