Photo by: USGA Museum
Morales Readies for U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2
June 12, 2024 | Men's Golf
PINEHURST VILLAGE, N.C. – Junior Omar Morales on the UCLA men's golf team tees up for round one of the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina Thursday morning at 7:07 a.m. (ET)/4:07 a.m. (PT).
Morales, making his second-straight U.S. Open appearance, is one of 16 amateurs and 14 collegians in the 2024 field.
Live Scoring Link
Joining Morales in his group are Max Greyserman (USA) and Casey Jarvis (South Africa). Other Bruins competing in the 124th U.S. Open include Patrick Cantlay (2010-12) and Jake Knapp (2012-15). Cantlay tees off at 4:40 a.m. (PT) and Knapp follows at 10:47 a.m. (PT) with both beginning their rounds on the 10th hole.
How To Watch
Round 1 (Thursday, June 13)
Coverage begins on the USA Network at 3:30 a.m. (PT) and continues on Peacock at 2 p.m. (PT).
Round 2 (Friday, June 14)
Coverage begins on the USA Network at 3:30 a.m. (PT) and continues on NBC and Peacock at 10 a.m. (PT). The end of second round coverage will continue on Peacock at 4 p.m. (PT).
Round 3 (Saturday, June 15)
Coverage begins on the USA Network at 7 a.m. (PT) and continues on NBC and Peacock at 9 a.m. (PT).
Final Round (Sunday, June 16)
Coverage begins on the USA Network at 6 a.m. (PT) and continues on NBC and Peacock at 9 a.m. (PT).
More on Morales
Morales earned his spot in the 124th U.S. Open by placing second at the Daly City Qualifier at Lake Merced Golf Club Monday afternoon. went birdie-birdie on his final two holes in Daly City to earn his spot in the U.S Open's field of 156. He sunk a roughly 15-foot putt on the par-5 18th to clinch his berth. Eighty-four total golfers competed at the Lake Merced Qualifier with only four making the cut. Morales shot rounds of 68-65 to finish 11-under and survive "Golf's Longest Day."
Morales hit the opening tee shot in his first U.S. Open appearance last June at nearby Los Angeles Country Club. The then-UCLA sophomore sat atop the leaderboard at 3-under after the turn in round one. Morales missed the cut with round scores of 71-78 (+9). He earned his spot at LACC by winning the Hillcrest Country Club Qualifier with back-to-back 65s.
"Playing in one U.S. Open is a special accomplishment, especially while in college, and Omar just qualified for a second consecutive year. Unbelievable," said UCLA Head Coach Armen Kirakossian. "His development and progression these last few years has been remarkable. It's a testament to the belief he has in himself backed up with extremely hard work. Omar is a guy anyone can root for. He does it the right way and treats people the right way. He has earned this and it's well deserved. I'm so proud of Omar and excited he is getting another opportunity on golf's biggest stage."
In the 2023-2024 collegiate season, Morales was named a GCAA Third Team All-American and All-Pac-12 First Team for the first time in his career. Morales is the first UCLA golfer to be tabbed an All-American under second-year head coach Armen Kirakossian and the first Bruin to receive the honor in four seasons. The Puebla, Mexico native paced the Bruins with a 69.9 scoring average, seven top-10 finishes and 25 rounds under par.
Morales won his second collegiate medal at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate with a score of 11-under (68-68-69). He placed top-15 in his final four events of the season, including a t-3rd finish at the Pac-12 Championships. Only one of Morales' 31 rounds as part of UCLA's lineup this season did not contribute to the Bruins' team score (30/31 counting rounds).
Outside of the collegiate schedule, Morales competed in his second PGA TOUR event at the Mexico Open and the Latin America Amateur Championships in Panama where he finished runner-up after leading for 71 holes.
Corey Pavin is the lone Bruin to have won a Major Championship event. Pavin won the 1995 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York. Five amateurs have won the U.S. Open in the tournament's history.
Morales, making his second-straight U.S. Open appearance, is one of 16 amateurs and 14 collegians in the 2024 field.
Live Scoring Link
Joining Morales in his group are Max Greyserman (USA) and Casey Jarvis (South Africa). Other Bruins competing in the 124th U.S. Open include Patrick Cantlay (2010-12) and Jake Knapp (2012-15). Cantlay tees off at 4:40 a.m. (PT) and Knapp follows at 10:47 a.m. (PT) with both beginning their rounds on the 10th hole.
How To Watch
Round 1 (Thursday, June 13)
Coverage begins on the USA Network at 3:30 a.m. (PT) and continues on Peacock at 2 p.m. (PT).
Round 2 (Friday, June 14)
Coverage begins on the USA Network at 3:30 a.m. (PT) and continues on NBC and Peacock at 10 a.m. (PT). The end of second round coverage will continue on Peacock at 4 p.m. (PT).
Round 3 (Saturday, June 15)
Coverage begins on the USA Network at 7 a.m. (PT) and continues on NBC and Peacock at 9 a.m. (PT).
Final Round (Sunday, June 16)
Coverage begins on the USA Network at 6 a.m. (PT) and continues on NBC and Peacock at 9 a.m. (PT).
More on Morales
Morales earned his spot in the 124th U.S. Open by placing second at the Daly City Qualifier at Lake Merced Golf Club Monday afternoon. went birdie-birdie on his final two holes in Daly City to earn his spot in the U.S Open's field of 156. He sunk a roughly 15-foot putt on the par-5 18th to clinch his berth. Eighty-four total golfers competed at the Lake Merced Qualifier with only four making the cut. Morales shot rounds of 68-65 to finish 11-under and survive "Golf's Longest Day."
Morales hit the opening tee shot in his first U.S. Open appearance last June at nearby Los Angeles Country Club. The then-UCLA sophomore sat atop the leaderboard at 3-under after the turn in round one. Morales missed the cut with round scores of 71-78 (+9). He earned his spot at LACC by winning the Hillcrest Country Club Qualifier with back-to-back 65s.
"Playing in one U.S. Open is a special accomplishment, especially while in college, and Omar just qualified for a second consecutive year. Unbelievable," said UCLA Head Coach Armen Kirakossian. "His development and progression these last few years has been remarkable. It's a testament to the belief he has in himself backed up with extremely hard work. Omar is a guy anyone can root for. He does it the right way and treats people the right way. He has earned this and it's well deserved. I'm so proud of Omar and excited he is getting another opportunity on golf's biggest stage."
In the 2023-2024 collegiate season, Morales was named a GCAA Third Team All-American and All-Pac-12 First Team for the first time in his career. Morales is the first UCLA golfer to be tabbed an All-American under second-year head coach Armen Kirakossian and the first Bruin to receive the honor in four seasons. The Puebla, Mexico native paced the Bruins with a 69.9 scoring average, seven top-10 finishes and 25 rounds under par.
Morales won his second collegiate medal at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate with a score of 11-under (68-68-69). He placed top-15 in his final four events of the season, including a t-3rd finish at the Pac-12 Championships. Only one of Morales' 31 rounds as part of UCLA's lineup this season did not contribute to the Bruins' team score (30/31 counting rounds).
Outside of the collegiate schedule, Morales competed in his second PGA TOUR event at the Mexico Open and the Latin America Amateur Championships in Panama where he finished runner-up after leading for 71 holes.
Corey Pavin is the lone Bruin to have won a Major Championship event. Pavin won the 1995 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York. Five amateurs have won the U.S. Open in the tournament's history.
Players Mentioned
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