Alumni Scott Pinckney earns spot to British Open

Pinckney's record round earns Open spot (by Alistair Tait, Golfweek/July 3, 2012)
Pinckney among 12 qualifiers to Royal Lytham & St Annes (Open Championship website/July 3, 2012)

An honorable mention All-America golfer at Arizona State in 2008-09 is on his way to the British Open with a record-breaking performance. Scott Pinckney has carved out a living on the professional tour overseas and has punched his ticket to the biggest event over the pond in 2012.

Pinckney set a professional course record at West Lancashire (England) Golf Club with a second round 8-under 64 in Local Final Qualifying for the July 19-22 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes. After a 75 in the first round he bounced back to earn a spot in a four-man playoff for two spots. He made his mark in the final nine holes going 7-under including two chip-ins.

The Anthem, Ariz., native qualified for last year's U.S. Open as an amateur but missed the cut. He's played this season mostly on the European Challenge Tour.

Pinckney appeared in 13 tournaments in 2010-11 season and posted a career-best 71.89 stroke average. He collected a career high in top-10 finishes with five and recorded a career-high 10 rounds in the 60s, including a career-low 66 in the first round of the ASU Thunderbird Invitational. He began the 2011 spring season by placing in four straight top-10s, including finishing in second at the USC Collegiate Invitational. He also tied for sixth at the Amer Ari Invitational, tied for 10th at The Battle at the Beach and tied for ninth at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters. He also earned first-team All-Pac-10 in his senior season.

He played in 40 career events at Arizona State and posted a 72.66 stroke average with 19 rounds in the 60s.