Scarlet Sunrise: Ohio State's Maxwell Moldovan earns spot in U.S. Open at L.A. Country Club
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Ohio State’s Maxwell Moldovan earns spot in U.S. Open at L.A. Country Club
Ohio State men’s golf rising senior Maxwell Moldovan got the call from the USGA Sunday night that he had earned a spot in the U.S. Open for the second year in a row.
Starting on Thursday, Moldovan will compete in the major championship at the Los Angeles Country Club. Last year, he went out to Brookline, Massachusetts, for the event but missed the cut by four shots after shooting rounds of 75-72.
“It’s awesome,” Moldovan told Lettermen Row’s Tim May Monday. “In my opinion, this is the best experience in golf. Just the whole week itself. Really thankful I was able to get in the field, and I have a lot to look forward to this week.”
Moldovan led Ohio State in scoring average (70.64) for the third consecutive season this year. He had 10 top-10 finishes in 13 events. Last week at the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier at Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ohio, he shot rounds of 65-68. That put him at -7 and in a 3-for-2 playoff. After one hole, though, that became a 2-for-1 showdown between Moldovan and Iowa’s Alex Schaake. On the eighth extra hole, Schaake made birdie to win the playoff.
After that marathon of a day, Moldovan was the first alternate from the Springfield site and the third alternate overall for the U.S. Open.
Flash forward to Sunday, and Moldovan got word of the good news: He’s in the field again.
He said the course at L.A. Country Club is “great” and that it tests every club in the bag.
“I’ve only played nine [holes] so far,” Moldovan said. “But I think it’s going to really challenge guys off the tee. You have to make tough decisions on what club to hit. And, the more aggressive you are, the higher the penalty is if you hit it in the rough or in a hazard or a bunker, so it’s a great test.”
Moldovan added: “My goal is just to try to continue getting better,” Moldovan said. “I think from where I was last year at the [U.S.] Open, I think I am a better player than then. But my goal is just to have my game in the best shape I can Thursday morning.”
Fast-rising safety prospect Jaylen McClain commits to Ohio State
Ohio State has its third defensive commit, and first defensive back commit, of the 2024 cycle. Jaylen McClain, who On3 ranks the No. 7 safety and No. 106 overall prospect in the class, pledged to the Buckeyes Monday evening.
The four-star West Orange (N.J.) Seton Hall Prep defensive back also had offers from Penn State, USC, Notre Dame and others.
McClain joins four-star linebacker duo Garrett Stover and Payton Pierce in Ohio State’s growing class.
For the full story, go here.
RELATED
Five Questions for Buckeyes historic group of wide receivers
Lettermen Row’s position week series is mowing along. “Running Backs Week” is in the books, and now the much-anticipated “Wide Receivers Week” is up.
We’ll be diving into and analyzing the Buckeyes’ ultra-talented yet crowded group of wideouts. Led by 2022 Biletnikoff Award finalist Marvin Harrison Jr. and fellow 1,000-yard receiver Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State enters the year with the best wideout room in the country.
It’s not a top-heavy group, either.
“I would say that we are a good six or seven deep right now,” Buckeyes offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline said in late March. “And that’s really good.”
Here are five questions we have about the room in 2023.
Counting down
Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 82 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 166 days
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