AUBURNDALE, Mass. – Harvard men's golf first-year Reese Jensen will compete for a spot in the 2026 United State Open at Shinnecock Hills after winning his local qualifier at Woodland Golf Course this week. The Duxbury native battled the wind and cold at the qualifier on Tuesday (Apr. 21) in what became a highly competitive qualifying round. Jensen birdies four holes over a six-hole stretch and never looked back, earning medalist honors and an advancement into the final qualifying round.
 
Starting on the 10^th hole, Jensen had to settle in quickly to the harsh weather conditions and temperatures that barely reached the mid-40s. An opening hole bogey was quickly erased after a birdie on the par-four 12^th hole. Jensen then posted two bogeys in a three-hole stretch before kicking it into high gear in the middle of his round. The run started on the 18^th hole with a birdie and then Jensen drew three more circles on his card over the next five holes to push his way up the leaderboard and into the top four. A bogey on his second to last hole did not factor in as Jensen's score would hold as the lowest of the event. Finishing with a final score of 70 (-1), Jensen just narrowly held off the trailing golfers to earn the top spot in the field.
 
Final qualifying will begin on May 18 and will run through June 8. The next round, better known as "Golf's Longest Day" sees hundreds of professionals and amateurs compete over 36 holes for spots in the Open, which will take place from June 18-21 at the world famous Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island.
 
First, Jensen and his Harvard golf teammates will head down to Baltusrol Golf Club on Friday (Apr. 24) to compete for the 2026 Ivy League Championship. The event will decide the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Regional Tournament, which is held in mid-May. For more updates on the Harvard golf team, follow the program on social media and online at GoCrimson.com.