Fort Myers' McNeill wins 3-way playoff

Fort Myers' George McNeill qualified for his second U.S. Open on Tuesday. And he's going to try to be a tour pro again.

The former assistant pro at The Forest Country Club in south Fort Myers won a three-way playoff with a birdie on the first hole for the third and final spot at the sectional qualifier at Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa.

"I played good pretty much the whole day," said McNeill, who had scores of 70 and 71. "Actually I probably played better. I felt like (3-under) was probably the worst I could've shot."

McNeill, who qualified in 2002 when the Open was at Bethpage, had to wait 90 minutes after finishing his second round. He figured bogeys on two of the last three holes would knock him out.

"There were a lot of good scores and good players still out there," he said.

McNeill relaxed and checked the scoreboard as group after group came in. Now, after a summer vacation with his wife in England, the 30-year-old North Fort Myers and Florida State University graduate will try tour golf again.

"I made a decision not to do it anymore," McNeill said of becoming a club professional.

McNeill said he'll go back to Iowa, where he's played in a couple of professional tournaments the past few years, and also try to Monday-qualify for some Nationwide Tour events.

Billy Horschel of Grant and John Koskinen of Baraga, Mich., tied for medalist honors at 140. McNeill beat out Josh McCumber, nephew of Champions Tour player Mark McCumber, and amateur Ryan Blaum in the playoff.

John Calabria, membership director at Fiddler's Creek, tied for 34th with 75-78/153. Calabria, 58, was the oldest player to make it out of local qualifying.

Fort Myers' Nolan Henke tied for 25th at 150, and amateur Jackie Miller of Naples shot 84-84/168 and was 53rd. Ireland's Mark Murphy, who also advanced out of the local qualifier at Naples National, no-carded after a first-round 75.

Near Atlanta, Fort Myers' Justin McCarraher did not advance at Settindown Creek Golf Course at Ansley Country Club. McCarraher was in contention after a first-round 69, but the former Florida Gulf Coast University golfer shot a 79 in the second round.

The U.S. Open is June 15-18 at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

• LEMANSKI, FRANCELLA COME UP SHORT: Misia Lemanski, who works at Eagle Creek Country Club, and Meaghan Francella, who works with Naples-based instructor Tom Patri, both failed to advance out of U.S. Women's Open sectional qualifying on Monday at Knollwood Golf Club in West Bloomfield, Mich.

Francella shot 77-76 for a 153, one stroke out of a playoff for the final three spots. She lost out in a six-way playoff for fourth alternate. Lemanski shot 80-78 for a 158.

Naples' Kris Tamulis and Bonita Springs' Catherine Cartwright will try to qualify on Monday in Baltimore.