The road to the U.S. Open is paved with pressure-packed putts, and few know that better than former BYU standout Keanu Akina. On Monday, under the hot Sandy sun at Willow Creek Country Club, Akina faced a defining moment: a 12-foot downhill birdie putt on the 18th green. The stakes? A spot in final qualifying—or a nerve-wracking playoff.
“I just felt like the way the course was playing, six under would be a little comfortable,” said Akina, who turned pro after graduating from BYU in 2024. “I thought five under would be a playoff. I didn’t want to run it by too far. Good thing it went in.”
And go in it did. The ball dropped, Akina unleashed a fist pump, and his 6-under 66 secured one of five coveted berths into sectional qualifying. It was a clutch finish for a golfer who knows the razor-thin margins of the game. “It doesn’t always go that way with golf,” he added. “I’ve gained a lot of experience playing pro. I’ve been right on the cut number or missed a playoff, so every time you get through, it feels really good.”
Akina wasn’t the only one feeling the heat. Former BYU star Carson Lundell stole the show with a blistering 8-under 64, leading the pack of five Utahns who advanced. Joining them were four others, including a familiar name: BYU freshman Parker Bunn, who shot a 5-under 67 but landed as the first alternate. Utah Tech’s KJ Ofahengaue secured second alternate status, emerging from a trio of 68s that included BYU’s Simon Kwon and former Cougar Zac Jones.
For Keanu Akina, the victory was sweeter given his family connection. His younger brother, Kihei Akina, is a BYU freshman star who already earned an exemption from local qualifying, skipping straight to final qualifying on June 8—often called the “longest day of golf,” where players tee it up at 10 sites nationwide. While Kihei’s path is set, Keanu now waits to learn his sectional destination, likely leaning toward Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento.
“I don’t remember which courses I listed,” Keanu admitted with a grin. “But Sacramento just seems to make the most sense.”
For golf fans, this is the essence of the U.S. Open journey: raw talent, nerve, and a little bit of luck. Whether you’re chasing a major or just dreaming of one, every putt counts. And for these Utah golfers, the dream is still alive.