BALL GROUND, Ga. - Middle Tennessee rising sophomore men's golfer Brett Patterson became the first player in school history to qualify for the U.S. Open when he shared medalist honors of Monday's U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier at the Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga., just north of Atlanta. The course was a par 72, 7,186-yard layout.

"It's hard to put it into words," Patterson said. "It just goes to show a lot of hard work I have put in has paid off. It's certainly something I've dreamt about my whole life. For something like this to come true, that's just something I can't describe."

Patterson fired an impressive 12-under par 70-62?132 to finish share top honors with Ryan Nelson of Dickinson, Texas, among the pool of 47 players and advance to the upcoming U.S. Open. Both rounds were contested Monday in the 36-hole qualifier. The 62 during the second 18 set a course record.

The McMinnville, Tenn., native ripped through the course the second time around, with 10 birdies, including three on the same hole as his first 18. He was 4-under par on both par 4s and 5s during the second round and finished the day with 21 pars.

"He is the hardest worker on this team and a tremendous young man," Blue Raider head coach Whit Turnbow. "He puts in a lot of time, not only on the golf course, but off of it as he has a 4.0 GPA. I couldn't be happier for him and I have all the confidence in the world that he will go into the U.S. Open and compete."

The 111th U.S. Open is slated for June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club, approximately 20 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. Complete information on the tournament can be found at www.USOpen.com.