Ohio State rising sophomore golfer Vaughn Harber had five holes left to play on golf’s longest day. Or so he thought.. The DeSales graduate shot a bogey-free 67 in the first round of the U.S. Open final qualifier at Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville, Ohio, on June 8. Across the country, golfers competed through 36 holes at eight different qualifying sites for a final shot to make the upcoming U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, New York. Harber needed to finish his second round with a strong score to snag one of the few qualifying spots up for grabs.. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. Harber answered by going 5 under on the last five holes, including three birdies and an eagle, forcing his way into a four-way playoff to rally for a spot in the U.S. Open at age 20.`. Ohio State rising sophomore golfer Vaughn Harber qualified for the 2026 U.S. Open by winning a playoff on “Golf’s longest day” at Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville, Ohio June 8, 2026.. Has it hit Harber yet that he’ll be playing against the best golfers in the world?. “I think it’s getting there,” Harber said. “I don’t think it’ll really hit me until I’m there practicing next to those guys, standing next to the Scottie Schefflers, Cam Youngs, whatever. But I think it’s kind of starting to settle in a little bit.”. Fresh off his first year at Ohio State, where he was second on the men’s golf team in scoring average, Harber was one of two amateurs to qualify for the U.S. Open in Westerville with four qualifying spots available. He shot a 36 on the front nine of his second round, but his chances of qualifying began to fade.. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. On the 13th hole, Harber landed in the rough and attempted to hit a full swing shot, intending to get height on the ball on his approach. Instead, he whiffed his club directly underneath the ball, which was parked on top of the tall grass. He got up and in after his botched attempt.. Slowly, Harber began to heat up. After a birdie on the 14th, he two-putted from 40 feet on the 15th hole green for par. Striking the ball consistently, he headed to the 16th green where his talent began to take over. Harber needed only three shots to complete the 522-yard Par 5 for an eagle.. “I guess you could say it got me back into the zone,” Harber said. “[It] kind of made me realize ‘you’ve still got a chance.’ “. He was three shots behind the top qualifier’s score of 11 under through 16 holes, and the nerves began to kick back in. Harber birdied the 18th to put himself in a four-way tie for second. With three qualifying spots remaining, Herber and the three other golfers, made up of two other amateurs and five-time PGA Tour winner J.B. Holmes, headed back to the 10th tee for a playoff.. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. Harber was comfortable with the idea of playing 36 holes, a common length for collegiate events, and had the endurance and composure to string together two rounds. He thinks that the June 8 qualifier was the first time he played 37 holes in a one-day competition.. After his drive, Harber saw a golden opportunity. He was 115 yards from the hole, his most confident yardage, and shooting a target length he practiced every day.. Feeling relaxed, Harber hit a 54-degree wedge toward the back of the green with enough spin to reel back and roll within three feet of the cup. With another golfer failing to reach the green, all Harber needed was a three-putt to punch his ticket.. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. Despite the flub in the middle of his round, Harber did not lose confidence. His proximity to the course, about a 20-minute drive from his house, allowed him to have a supporting crowd of around 40 to 50 people made up of family and friends.. “It keeps you energized in times where, you know, you’re competing for a U.S. Open,” Harber said. “Like, you’ve got a pretty big thing in front of you, and to see that support, it kept me in it.”. Ohio State rising sophomore golfer Vaughn Harber qualified for the 2026 U.S. Open by winning a playoff on “Golf’s longest day” at Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville, Ohio June 8, 2026.. Harber was also familiar with the course. Along with playing high school golf events in Westerville, Harber had a friend in high school who was a member at Lakes Golf and Country Club. On weekends, Harber used to stay at his friend’s house and play the course “a decent bit.”. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. Shinnecock Hills, however, is a different beast and a links-style course. The U.S. Open will be Harber’s first time on the course, which is nestled in between the Hamptons on Long Island.. Harber has spent time preparing by watching YouTube videos of the course.. Ohio State rising sophomore golfer Vaughn Harber qualified for the 2026 U.S. Open by winning a playoff on “Golf’s longest day” at Lakes Golf and Country Club in Westerville, Ohio June 8, 2026.. “From what I can tell, it’s penalizing if you hit bad shots, like a proper championship course should be,” Harber said. “And around the greens looks … crazy, to say the least.”. The idea of playing against the world’s best golfers is an intimidating thought, but Harber, a former Division I state champion, feels ready. He has trust in his caddie, Jon Yarbrough, his swing coach for 10 years, who was on his bag for golf’s longest day.. Advertisement. Advertisement. Advertisement. “He’s like my second dad, honestly,” Harber said.. Before this month, Harber’s name in the golf world was as the latest standout Ohio State golfer and a part-time caddie at Scioto Country Club. Even after qualifying for the open, Harber caddied for his friend Jake Walker at the OSU Scarlet Course during the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier June 11. He helped Walker win a four-golfer playoff to secure the last qualifying spot for the amatuer.. Now, Harber will join 18 other amateurs and compete against the best competition in one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments at Shinnecock Hills.. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State golfer Vaughn Harber felt at home at U.S. Open qualifier