Former Kentucky men’s golfer Jack Schoenberger had the opportunity of a lifetime when he competed in the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York.
Hosted by the United States Golf Association, the U.S. Open is one of golf’s four major championships and features many of the best players from around the world. For Schoenberger, earning a spot in the field was the result of an impressive qualifying journey.
Schoenberger, who recently wrapped up his senior season at Kentucky, began his path to the U.S. Open at local qualifying at Canongate-on-White Oak in Newnan, Georgia. He tied for medalist honors after shooting a 7-under-par 63 to advance to final qualifying.
At Hawks Ridge Golf Club, Schoenberger continued his strong play. He posted rounds of 69 and 65 to finish at 10-under par, tying for sixth place.
His finish earned him a spot in a playoff for first alternate, where he defeated Germany’s Alexander Herrmann to secure the position.
Although he left qualifying without a guaranteed place in the championship, Schoenberger’s chance came just four days before the tournament was set to begin.
On the Sunday before the opening round, he received a call informing him that he had been added to the 156-player field as one of five alternates to gain entry into the event.
Competing on one of golf’s biggest stages, Schoenberger posted rounds of 73 (+3) on both Thursday and Friday. While he missed the cut, he still turned in several impressive performances against some of the best players in the world.
One of his strongest areas was his short game. Through two rounds, Schoenberger ranked inside the top five in strokes gained around the green at +1.45. He also showcased his power off the tee, averaging 331.2 yards in driving distance during the opening round, which ranked 17th in the field. He followed that with a 313.7-yard average in the second round.
Although his tournament ended after 36 holes, Schoenberger’s journey from qualifying alternate to U.S. Open competitor marked a memorable achievement and capped off an impressive collegiate career with the Wildcats.
In his senior season for the Wildcats, Schoenberger started all 11 team events and had a 72.41 scoring average across 32 rounds. The former Kentucky captain had two top five finishes on the season, and three within the top 20.
