N.j.'s Pat Wilson Makes PGA Debut At U.S. Open

BY GREG MATTURA, The Record

Pat Wilson’s debut in a PGA Tour event will be the U.S. Open.

The 24-year-old pro from Andover Township returned from a lower back injury to qualify for the 115th U.S. Open, which opens Thursday at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.

"I’m still taking it all in, pinching myself," said Wilson, the 2013 NJSGA Player of the Year, "because I got my first start in the highest level of professional golf, in a major, and that’s pretty awesome."

The former St. John’s standout was awesome last Monday when he earned one of four spots at the metropolitan area’s sectional qualifier in Purchase, N.Y. Over the past dozen years, only a handful from the Garden State have qualified via the Met sectional.

"I knew around even par was going to be a good score," said Wilson, who tied for third after combining for a 1-under-par 140 at the Old Oaks and Century courses. "So I made sure to be aggressive when I could, but being that both golf courses are really tough, I knew you can’t make big numbers."

This marked the fourth consecutive year Wilson reached a sectional qualifier after advancing through a local qualifier. He survived a local qualifier at Canoe Brook in Summit in May by shooting 1-over 73 and earning the last of four spots.

"After the U.S. Open local qualifier, I started playing really well," said Wilson, best known for winning the Metropolitan Golf Association Amateur Championship in 2013. "My swing started to come together. I was feeling good, I was excited to play, because I took some time off."

Wilson was sidelined during the winter after suffering a herniated disk in his lower back last fall that prevented him from competing in the Second Stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School. He spent the winter working the front desk at Essex Golf Driving Range in Roseland.

Last year represented Wilson’s first full season as a pro and "I was struggling a little bit, trying to get acclimated to playing professional golf, and it’s a learning experience." The back injury prevented him from earning status on any pro tour.

"Money’s been kind of tight," said Wilson, who this month tied for third at the Cape Cod Open in Hyannis, Mass. "I’ve been really trying to not worry about it. But I’m trying to make the most of every opportunity I have to play. And being that I have no status this year is tough. It’s been hard for me to get into anything."

That’s what makes getting into the U.S. Open so remarkable. His younger brother, Cory, who plays at Seton Hall, will be his caddie, and his parents and several other relatives and friends will head west to watch him play.

"I kept saying to my parents and Cory, ‘I just have to get into something. I’m playing too well to not make any money.’ And I finally got my break," said Wilson, who tees off Thursday at 12:12 p.m. "I’ve got something to play in, and I’m playing [for a winner’s share] of almost $2 million dollars, so that’s pretty cool.

"I have to put things in perspective. This is the grandest stage of golf you can play on, so I’m just going to try and embrace it, and my goal is to try and make the cut.’’