Edmond's Austin Eckroat fulfilling dreams at U.S. Open

Austin Eckroat chips during the final round of the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships at Karsten Creek Golf Club in Stillwater. Eckroat of Edmond is playing as an amatuer in the U.S. Open which begins Thursday in Pebble Beach, California. [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]Austin Eckroat has watched the U.S. Open since childhood.

Eckroat saw his golf inspirations, particularly Tiger Woods, compete on courses from New York to California. That fueled Eckroat's aspirations to become a professional, too.

This year, when those famous golfers play on Pebble Beach’s picturesque oceanside course, he can’t sit back and watch them. Eckroat, who recently finished his sophomore year on the Oklahoma…