LOS ANGELES – Two Auburn golfers will compete on one of the biggest stages in the sport this week, the 2023 U.S. Open. Jacob Solomon and Brendan Valdes look show their talents at the major, which is set for June 15-18 at Los Angeles Country Club.
On Thursday, Solomon will tee off from the first hole at 8:45 a.m. CT alongside Omar Morales of UCLA and Deon Germishuys of South Africa. Valdes will be paired with David Horsey of England and Paul Barjon of France. Barjon played collegiately at TCU. Valdes' group will tee off at 10:46 a.m. CT from hole 10.
Both men will be making their first appearance at the event as the fourth and fifth players under Auburn head coach Nick Clinard to play in the major. Previous men to make the U.S. Open under Clinard include Blayne Barber (2015), Michael Hebert (2018) and Jovan Rebula (2019).
A California native himself, Jacob Solomon graduated from the Auburn golf program in 2019. During his collegiate career, Solomon was a two-time All-SEC and two-time All-Region player. Since turning pro, he has made cuts in 14 of 22 events on PGA TOUR Canada and the Korn Ferry Tour. So far, Solomon has finished top five twice, at the Osprey Valley Open and the Fortinet Cup Championship.
Solomon secured his spot at the U.S. Open after shooting 66-67 at Bent Tree Country Club and Northwood Club in Dallas, Texas.
Valdes is a rising junior on the Auburn team and is looking to make some noise as one of 19 amateurs in the field. He's coming off a hot collegiate season after leading the Tigers to a second consecutive top-10 national finish while also setting the program's single-season records for scoring average and rounds in the 60s. Valdes was rewarded for his outstanding year with a nod on as an Honorable Mention All-American. Tigers assistant coach Chris Williams will be on the bag for him this week.
To punch his ticket to Los Angeles, Valdes turned in a 69-68 performance at the qualifier at Pine Tree Golf Club in Boynton Beach, Florida.
2023 U.S. Open TV schedule (CT):
Thursday, June 15: 12-7 p.m. (USA); 7-10 p.m. (NBC)
Friday, June 16: 12-7 p.m. (USA); 7-10 p.m. (NBC)
Saturday, June 17: 12-10 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, June 18: 12-9 p.m. (NBC)
Solomon, Valdes ready for 2023 U.S. Open
