Former State Open Champion Kevin Foley In U.S. Open Field

By Andy Vazquez, The Record

Kevin Foley stood on the driving range at Oakmont Country Club early Monday afternoon. He smiled, and repeated the words that have been dancing through his mind for the last week.

"Hope is a beautiful thing," said Foley, who grew up in Somerville..Foley won the 2011 NJSGA Open.

That line, from the movie "Shawshank Redemption," was the first thing Foley thought of June 6. He was utterly disappointed after missing qualifying for the U.S. Open by one shot at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit. But after snagging the first alternate spot in a playoff, he was hopeful.

Monday, hope turned into a dream come true as Foley was granted one of the final spots in the 116th U.S. Open Championship — his first major championship.

"It’s been an up-and-down ride," Foley said of the last week. "But that’s how the game of golf works, even when you’re playing the sport."

The peaks and valleys have spanned much longer than just a week for the 29-year-old Foley, who won the 2011 New Jersey State Open.

In 2013, Foley played well enough on the Web.com Tour to earn his PGA Tour card for 2014. But in 15 events that year, Foley struggled and lost his card. In 21 Web.com events since, Foley hasn’t cracked the top 10. And Foley had missed four straight cuts heading into last week’s U.S. Open qualifier at Canoe Brook.

For most of that qualifier, Foley looked like a lock for the Open. But several golfers posted late scores to pass him, and Foley was on the outside looking in.

But Foley held on to hope.

The USGA leaves several spots open to allow flexibility for golfers who qualify at the last minute via their World Golf Ranking — those who are in the top 60 of the world rankings to start U.S. Open week automatically earn a spot.

So Foley was watching closely Sunday, and when he saw few outside the top 60 were a threat to move up, he liked his chances.

"I had an idea," Foley said. "But you never know for sure until you get a phone call."

Foley got confirmation Sunday night, and finally got a good night of sleep.

"If you were to ask if all this is worth it, yeah it’s certainly worth it to be here and have the opportunity," Foley said. "I’m just super excited to be here and have the opportunity to win the U.S. Open."

Foley couldn’t play practice rounds over the weekend, but he feels pretty comfortable with Oakmont after having played it several times. He also might get a little extra support from the crowd, being that he played at Penn State.

"This is Nittany Lion country," Foley said. "So I feel right at home."

He’ll also have plenty of family support. Foley is the youngest of eight siblings. His brother Mike is his caddie, and he’s staying the week with another brother who lives in the Pittsburgh area.

Before he played a practice round Monday, Foley said that reality had yet to set in. But he expects to be comfortable on one of golf’s grandest stages.

"I feel like my whole life I’ve been getting ready for a U.S. Open," Foley said. "And I feel like my game is more geared for a U.S. Open. … So I’ll certainly let it all soak in and try to be as comfortable as possible."