sports
U.S. Army Veteran Qualifies for The Open Championship by One Stroke
Marcus Plunkett finished tied for fourth at a final qualifier, shooting rounds of 69 and 72 to advance to Royal Birkdale. The 32-year-old former Army officer had not played regularly during five years of service.
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Marcus Plunkett posted a tied-for-fourth finish at Dundonald Links on June 30, shooting 69 and 72 to qualify for The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale by one stroke. Plunkett, 32, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2016 after playing on the school's golf team.
He served as a transportation officer, spending one year in South Korea and later time at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, including a six-month deployment to Afghanistan.
After discharge he turned professional and set the course record at Fort Carson's Cheyenne Shadows course. In 2024 he won the Dakotas Tour money list and earned a Korn Ferry Tour card through Q-School. He made the cut in eight of 20 events and finished 134th in the standings.
The Open Championship is scheduled for July 12-19 at Royal Birkdale with a $17,000,000 prize fund.
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