BEND, Ore. – Saint Mary's Golfer Mitchell Hoey gained valuable experience by making it all the way to a final qualifier for the 2022 U.S. Open that took place on Monday.
 
The De La Salle High product just finished his freshman season with the Gaels and has already gotten a chance to measure himself against some of the best players in the game.  
 
"The overall experience was pretty unreal in all honesty," Hoey said. "From the start of the day warming up next to some of the best amateurs in the world, it was definitely a new experience, but it was an environment I felt I belonged in."
 
The final qualifier Hoey played in took place at the Pronghorn Resort's Nicklaus Course in Bend, Ore., as final qualifying was conducted over 36 holes in Japan and Canada as well as nine U.S. sites.

Hoey had a very good first round, finishing the first 18 holes 1-under par with a 71 while making four eagles and a birdie. He had two more birdies in round two, but also had seven bogies and finished with a 77, leading to him missing the cut.
 
"Walking away from the longest day in golf for me, I'd have to say one of the biggest things I picked up on – as well as a key determinant of success out there – is a commitment to one's routine and process," Hoey noted. "That's something everyone out there at the top of the leaderboard does so well."
 
Local qualifying was conducted over 18 holes at 109 sites in 44 U.S. states and Canada between April 25-May 23. In that round Hoey took second place with a 2-under 70 at the U.S. Open qualifier at Fountain Grove Golf Club in Santa Rosa, Calif. to advance to a final qualifying round.

"It takes so much mental strength to keep pushing no matter how tired you may be which I can say is very tough considering how tired I was," Hoey added. "Walking away from this experience, I just look at the positives and see what I can take from it and how it will make me a better player down the road. I have a feeling I'll be back and when I do I want to make sure I am ready."

The Alamo, Calif. native had a great freshman year for the Gaels, including finishing second at the SMC Invitational in November with a 205, and sixth at the Rutherford Intercollegiate hosted by Penn State with a 215. Mitchell had an average score of 73.10 this season, playing in 10 tournaments overall. 
 
The USGA accepted 9,069 entries for the 2021 championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course, in San Diego, Calif. The record of 10,127 entries was established for the 2014 championship on Pinehurst Resort & Country Club's Course No. 2, in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

"The U.S. Open provides thousands of professional and amateur golfers with diverse backgrounds from around the world the opportunity to earn a place in the championship through a two-stage qualifying process that was established more than 60 years ago," said John Bodenhamer, chief championships officer for the USGA. "Allied Golf Associations in the United States, as well as the Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada, are working with us to provide a pathway to The Country Club in June where we can once again showcase the world's greatest players."

To be eligible, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 1.4, or be a professional. There are 14 local qualifying sites in California, the most of any state. Florida hosted 13 local qualifiers.