KU’s Gunnar Broin fires 2-under 68 to make U.S. Open cut as an amateur

PINEHURST, N.C. (KCTV) - With the best golfers in the world gathered in the Carolina Sandhills, one amateur from Kansas is holding his own.

Kansas senior Gunnar Broin shot a 2-under par 68 during his second round of the U.S. Open Friday. Playing in the morning wave following a 5-over 75 on Thursday, Broin played masterfully to make it inside the cut line and secure two more rounds with some of the world’s best golfers.

The highlight of Broin’s second round came on the 8th hole -- his 17th of the day -- when the KU senior from Shorewood, Minn., chipped in from behind the green for a birdie, his fifth of the day.

Broin closed his round with three birdies in his final five holes, bouncing back after making a double bogey on hole 2 (his 11th hole of the round). Broin’s superb play was a product of an incredible short game, as he ranked in the top five in the playing field in strokes gained around the green and strokes gained putting.

Broin is the world’s 478th-ranked amateur but outplayed World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler by two strokes through the first two rounds of play at the 124th U.S. Open, played at Pinehurst No. 2. He qualified into the U.S. Open on June 3 through final qualifying in Columbus, Ohio, and needed a playoff to advance.

During his senior season at Kansas, Broin played in all 13 events for the Jayhawks but only finished inside the Top 20 twice and Top 10 once (at the Fighting Irish Classic, where he finished in a tie for seventh). He posted only four rounds in the 60s during the collegiate season, making his 68 on one of the hardest set-ups in golf all the more impressive heading into the weekend.