Ron Philo Jr., chasing PGA dream again, among players in U.S. Open local qualifier at Troy

Two golfers among the 53 signed up to play in the U.S. Open local qualifier Monday, May 13, at the Country Club of Troy stand out.

Ron Philo Jr., a Scotia native who is making golf headlines this week in another event, and Web.com Tour player Bryan Bigley of Rotterdam will vie for berths into the U.S. Open sectional qualifier June 3 at Purchase.

Philo, head pro at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., is in contention for a berth in next month's PGA Championship at Bethpage Black.

He is tied for 20th (falling 10 spots after a double bogey on the 18th hole Tuesday) heading into Wednesday's final round of the PGA Professional Championship in Bluffton S.C. The top 20 finishers will earn spots into the May 16-19 PGA.

If successful, Philo, 53, will be make his eighth PGA trip. He made the cut in the 2005 PGA, the year his pregnant sister, former LPGA player Laura Diaz, caddied for him.

Philo also holds the distinction of being the last player with Capital Region ties to make it into the U.S. Open, making the field in 1999 at Pinehurst, N.C., after qualifying locally at Schuyler Meadows and in sectionals at Rockville, Md.

Only three players from the Troy qualifier will advance to sectionals. Philo has made it to sectionals nine times. Bigley has advanced eight.

Bigley, 31, has settled in the Charlotte area as he tries to gain footing on the Web.com. Bigley, who tied for 22nd in Web.com qualifying school (after an opening-round 62), has made the cut in one of six tournaments so far this year.

The Open local qualifier returns after skipping the Capital Region last spring for the first time in 40 years. Only six area players ventured last year to Stockbridge, Mass., site of the...