Simon Khan and Simon Dyson secure US Open places

• Tuesday, 26 May 2009
• Michael Weston
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Simon Khan has qualified for the US Open at Bethpage Black

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England’s Simon Khan and Simon Dyson have both secured their places at the US Open after successfully qualifying at Walton Heath.

Khan finished on nine-under par with Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, with Dyson one shot back, as 75 players competed on the two Walton Heath courses for just the 11 US Open slots.  

However, the story of the day was a remarkable hole-in-one by Peter Hanson. In the play-off, Jose-Manuel Lara, Jean-Francois Lucquin, Johan Edfors and Francesco Molinari all birdied the first hole, after which Hanson's ace defeated Richard Bland and Stephen Gallacher for the remaining spot.

"I was pumped up so switched from a five iron to a six and knew I had to hit it really well to land it on the front of the green," said Hanson after his ace on the Old Course’s 17th.

Some notable names will not be teeing up on Bethpage Black next month including the experienced trio of Paul McGinley, David Howell and Niclas Fasth.

Thomas Levet, Andrew McLardy and David Horsey also secured their places in New York, Levet doing so on the back of some fine form including his Spanish Open victory in April and ninth place at the BMW PGA Championship.