June 6, 2006

SUMMIT, N.J. - St. Bonaventure golfer Jim Gifford fell short of a spot in next week's U.S. Open.

Monday in a sectional qualifying round at Canoe Brook Country Club in Summit, N.J., Gifford shot rounds of 80 and 75 for a 13-over par total of 155. He finished in a tie for 138th in the field of 152 players.

Only 18 players from the sectional made it into the U.S. Open field with a cut line of four under par.

Gifford, who will be a sophomore at St. Bonaventure this fall, advanced to the sectional qualifier after he shot even-par 72 in a local qualifying round on May 15 at Schuyler Meadows Golf Club in his hometown of Albany, N.Y.

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