2 Gardens residents lead, advance from U.S. Open local qualifying

PGA Tour veteran Sunny Kim and Web.com Tour up-and-comer Albin Choi, both residents of Palm Beach Gardens, shot 3-under 68 to share co-medalist honors and lead the list of players who advanced from U.S. Open local qualifying Friday at Admirals Cove in Jupiter.

Also moving on to sectional qualifying were Oscar Fraustro of Mexico (69) and Eric Cole of Delray Beach (71) and Sean Kelly of Staten Island, N.Y. (71). Former Benjamin High golfer Olin Browne Jr. shot 73. His father finished tied for fifth at the 1997 U.S. Open.

Sectional qualifying will take place at 10 sites across the country, including The Bears Club in Jupiter, on June 4. Sectionals will also be held in Japan and England. The 118th U.S. Open will be played June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills (N.Y.) Golf Course.

Filbert wins Fort Lauderdale Open: Starting the final round tied for 21st and six shots out of the lead, Andrew Filbert of Naples figured he had little chance of defending the Fort Lauderdale Open.

Making five birdies in his first seven holes changed his mindset.

“I knew I was right in it,” Filbert said.

He kept making birdies, shooting a 6-under 66 in windy conditions at Parkland Golf & Country Club to defend his title. At 3-under 141, he finished two shots ahead of Patrick Rada of Palm Beach Gardens and Gene Fieger of Naples.

“I got some putts to fall today,” said Filbert, a PGA Professional at Bonita National who is the reigning Player of the Year in the South Florida PGA. “I burned a lot of edges yesterday. The putter got hot.”

Filbert finished his round more than 90 minutes before the leaders. He was surprised when his 3-under held up.

Fieger, who led after a firstround 69, struggled on the greens and his 2-over 74 left him tied for second with Rada (69). Fieger, the director of golf at the Club at Pelican Bay in Naples, tied for the Senior Division title with Bob Ford (70-143) of Jupiter.

The Fort Lauderdale Open is run by the South Florida PGA.