June 5, 2006

Charlottesville, VA - Former Virginia men's golfer Carter Henderson (Nashville, TN) will compete for one of four qualifying spots to the 2006 U.S. Open Men's Golf Championships this week in a sectional qualifier in Atlanta.

Henderson is one of 64 players who will try to qualify from the 36-hole competition held Tuesday at Settingdown Creek Course at Atlanta's Ansley Golf Club. Henderson advanced to the sectional from a local qualifying round held May 15 at the Towson Golf and Country Club in Baltimore.

Henderson was third on the UVa team in 2006 with a stroke average of 73.73. He played in 10 of 11 tournaments and recorded his best finish at Cavalier Classic where he was sixth.

The U.S. Open began with more than 7,000 golfers attempting to qualify through local tournaments. About 550 advanced to sectional play, joining roughly 200 other golfers who were exempt from the local qualifying stage.

Golfers advancing from sectional qualifying will join the 70 players who are fully exempt into the Open field.

The 2006 U.S. Open will be played at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y. June 15-18.