Arizona Wildcats golfer Zach Pollo qualifies for U.S. Open

Arizona’s representation on “Golf’s Longest Day” has been nonexistent in recent years, but UA junior Zach Pollo ended the drought this week.

Pollo is the first Jim Anderson-era Wildcat to qualify for the U.S. Open, after the junior shot 6 under at the 36-hole U.S. Open qualifier at Valencia Country Club in Valencia, California, on Monday.

Pollo became one of 10 amateur golfers to qualify for the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania, his first PGA Tour event, which runs June 12-15.

“It’ll take a little bit (to settle in), but it’s pretty crazy,” Pollo said on Golf Channel. “I never teed it up professionally. What a place to do it.”

The U.S. Open event in Valencia produced four qualifiers. In addition to Pollo, Preston Summerhays (10 under), Riley Lewis (7 under) and Joey Herrera (4 under) also qualified. Michael Block, who rose to fame after becoming the first club professional to make the cut at the PGA Championship in 2023, competed at the U.S. Open qualifier in Valencia, but didn’t advance.

Pollo is the second Wildcat connected to the U.S. Open this year. Former Wildcat Yu-Sang Hou competed in last week’s U.S. Women’s Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin, but failed to make the cut after two rounds.

In the last calendar year, Pollo won the individual title at the St. Andrews Links Collegiate in Scotland and had a Top 10 finish at the Amherst Regional in Virginia last month.

“We’re thrilled,” Arizona men’s golf head coach Jim Anderson said of Pollo. “He’s going into his senior year and he has positioned himself as one of the best in college golf. ... Having the chance to qualify for the U.S. Open is an honor in itself. We were talking about it in the preceding weeks: ‘Zach, your game is there and you can get one of those spots.’ Sure enough, he went out there and played very solid. Now, he’s got a spot at Oakmont and we’re thrilled for him.”

Added Anderson: “We’re very excited for him and the experience he’s going to pick up. I couldn’t be more happy for Zach. He was pictured with his U of A shirt on (in Valencia) and he’s a Wildcat through and through. We’re very happy to see the progression he continues to make. ... He’s not afraid of big-time golf on big-time golf courses, so I’m excited to see how he does.”

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Anderson said the reserved Pollo is “very focused with his golf and he works really hard.”

“As an incoming freshman, he had the skillset you look for: great ball speed, very good putter,” said Anderson.

As an underclassman, Pollo was a “streaky putter” but has become consistent on the greens, said Anderson.

“When he was young, he had great weeks, but when it wasn’t all there, it was a little bit inconsistent, and that’s where he made remarkable strides,” Anderson said. “It’s just part of the maturation process and really improving your composure as a competitive golfer as you grow. Now, he’s got all the tools, with his length off the tee, a good wedge player and still putts it great.

“When he does play well, he’s getting a chance to play in the U.S. Open. When he’s not at his best, he’s still in the top 20% of the field in the events he’s playing in. A lot of times in golf, it’s about how you compete and perform when you don’t have every single component working the way you want it to be working.”

The U.S. Open “is one of the biggest tournaments you could possibly get into,” Anderson said. Other notable Wildcats to play in the U.S. Open include Jim Furyk and Ricky Barnes, who set the 36-hole scoring record at the 2009 U.S. Open.

USGA announced it received a record 10,202 entries for the U.S. Open qualifiers at 110 different local qualifying sites. For the final 10 qualifying sites, there were 744 golfers. Only 47 golfers from the qualifiers advanced to the 156-player U.S. Open this year.

“It’d be really cool if they could play the U.S. Open with the best 1,000 golfers, but the USGA has to limit it to 156,” Anderson said. “Most of those players are there by way of how they played as professionals. ... It’s an honor to make it, and it’s a lifetime experience for many.

“There are professional journeyman who try to play golf for a living and it’s a serious hobby for them; they dream of having the chance to play in one U.S. Open. For Zach to do this at 21 (years old) and have aspirations to get to play in more of these, it’s a great way to kickstart what will soon be great professional career for him.”