RICHMOND, Texas - Former U.S. Open champion Tom Kite shot 71 Wednesday in the rain-delayed sectional qualifier at Shadow Hawk Golf Club, giving him his 31st consecutive trip to the U.S. Open.
Kite, 54, who won at Pebble Beach in 1992 for his only major title, completed 36 holes in 139. Charleton Dechert of Enid, Okla., also shot 139 to qualify for next week's U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York state.
Trip Kuehne, the brother of PGA Tour player Hank Kuehne, stumbled to 72 and is an alternate.
Kite is tied for the third-longest streak of competing in the U.S. Open. Jack Nicklaus holds the record with 44, followed by Hale Irwin at 33. Gene Sarazen and Arnold Palmer also played in 31.
