Unlikely U.S. Open qualifier looks to capitalize on opportunity

Patrick Cover’s qualification for the U.S. Open is one of the bigger surprises in the entire field.

The former UNC-Wilmington golfer has played 60 events between the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour China, PGA Tour Canada and PGA Tour Latinoamerica, finishing inside the top 10 at just two of those tournaments.

He’s made the weekend in four of his last eight starts on the Korn Ferry Tour. But inward, Cover felt this kind of breakthrough was on the horizon.

Full-field scores from U.S. Open

“I actually feel like I’ve been playing well. The last two tournaments I had some iffy putting on funky greens in Raleigh,” he said. “I just haven’t had tournaments where I’ve put all four rounds together,…