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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Medford may ban outdoor pot gardens ... Medford man accused of threatening girlfriend with high-speed crash ... Rogue Valley doctor runs for governor on climate change platform ... Medford may ban outdoor pot gardens ... Medford man accused of threatening girlfriend with high-speed crash ... Rogue Valley doctor runs for governor on climate change platform ... GOLF Martin, Raza advance in Open qualifying Comment By Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Eugene Register-Guard Posted May. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM By Eugene Register-Guard Posted May. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News EUGENE — There was some adrenaline flowing on No. 18 for a couple of familiar faces trying to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifier Monday at the Eugene Country Club. Casey Martin gave a classic Tiger fist-pump after draining a 40-foot birdie putt for a 1-under 70, which allowed the Oregon men’s golf coach to finish in a five-way tie for second place. “I wasn’t planning on doing that, but I knew that putt meant something,” said Martin, a former teammate of Tiger Woods’ during their Stanford days. “That felt good.” Sulman Raza, a talented junior redshirting this season in Martin’s program, hit his 15-foot par putt as if it were a 40-footer. Fortunately for the former South Eugene High standout, the ball still found the bottom of the cup. Raza finished with a 3-under 68 to earn medalist honors in the field of 155. “I actually hit it and thought I had blown it way by the hole,” Raza said. “I hit it and I was like, ‘What are you doing? All you have to do is either make this or just two-putt.’ “I’m pretty glad that went in the hole, honestly, I felt really relieved.” Both Raza and Martin advance to sectional qualifying June 8 at the Tumble Creek Club in Cle Elum, Wash. Martin finished in a tie for 23rd at the 1998 U.S. Open and last played in the national championship in 2012 at Olympic Club in San Francisco after winning the sectional qualifier at Emerald Valley. After shooting a 3-over 37 on the front nine, it didn’t appear the PGA Tour veteran would make the cut on his home course. Martin rallied with birdies on 11 and 12, an eagle on 13 and the dramatic putt on 18 for a back-nine 33. Martin, born with a debilitating birth defect in his right leg that makes walking difficult, was granted the use of a cart. “I’m glad I had (the cart) because I didn’t feel good,” said Martin, who traveled Sunday back to Eugene after Oregon qualified for the NCAA championships with a fifth-place finish at a regional in Noblesville, Ind. “We had a lot of driving and a lot of flying to get home and my leg always takes a few days to recover from that. I’m grateful to play well and get through.” Raza, who won a state title in 2012 by 12 strokes, hit his second shot in the water and found the bunker after a drop. He was able to get up-and-down out of the sand for bogey and then birdied No. 17 to maintain his two-stroke lead. “I just assumed that if you shot below 70 or even par, you’re probably going to have a really good shot at it,” Raza said. “Making that put on the last hole made me feel like I kind of sealed the deal for myself.” Raza’s teammates who helped orchestrate a dramatic comeback at the regional Saturday — Zach Foushee (2-over), Jonathan Woo (3-over) and Brandon McIver (6-over) — didn’t have enough left in the tank to qualify. Thomas Lim withdrew from the event. “We’re all exhausted,” Martin said. “We’ve had a whirlwind of a lot of stress and a lot of brutal travel. I know the guys struggled.” Martin joked he might have to consider burning Raza’s redshirt for the NCAA championships May 29-June 3 in Bradenton, Fla. “That’s great for him because he’s been redshirting all year and plugging away, not getting any love really,” Martin said. “I remember my year when I redshirted, you just kind of felt like a forgotten man. For him to come out there in his first hint of competition and do that is really special. I’m really happy for him. He’s a great player.” Raza has been able to focus on getting his GPA and weight room numbers up this season. Now he’ll join his coach, a fellow Eugene native, for a 36-hole opportunity to play their way into the field at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., June 18-21. Last year McIver, Raza’s roommate during their freshmen year at Oregon, failed to qualify for the U.S. Open after a sectional at Emerald Valley. “I’m usually pretty neck-and-neck with (McIver) and I feel if he’s making the U.S. Open, I think I should be able to do it,” Raza said. “It’s a pretty cool thing. I’ve still got to go and play 36 holes and get it done, but just passing this first local qualifier helps me a little bit.” Along with Raza, Cody Curteman of Bandon, Jesse Heinly of Bend, Nick Shewood of Albany and John Wise of Portland all qualified. The final three spots were decided in a four-person playoff. Harrison Moir of Portland and Andrew Beuge of Abrams, Wis., advanced, as did Craig Crandal of San Clemente, Calif. By Eugene Register-Guard MailTribune.com By Eugene Register-Guard Posted May. 20, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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