AUGUSTA, Mo. — Despite living in nearby St. Louis and playing the nearby Boone Valley Golf Club many times before, Bob Goss had never broken par on those championship links.

Unfortunately for St. Joseph amateur Brad Nurski, Goss obliterated par Monday.

Goss fired a 5-under-par 66 in the afternoon round on Monday to overtake Nurski by one stroke in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying and earn the right to compete in the major June 9-15 at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

“It was a helluva score, I’ll tell you that,” said Nurski, who led after the morning round with a 1-over-par 72. And despite bettering his score by one stroke in the second round, Goss overtook him.

“I’m certainly not disappointed about the way I played,” Nurski said. “I improved the second round and still got beat. And 1-over for 36 holes is pretty good in my book.”

Less happy with his round in this qualifying tournament was Brice Garnett of Gallatin, Mo., who shot a 78-79—157 to finish well back in the 17-member field.

“The course bruised me up pretty good today,” said Garnett, a professional on the Adams Golf Pro Tour Series. “It’s just a course that requires a good shot every time you step to the ball. I didn’t hit the tee ball as good as I should today.”

Nurski was consistent through the day, recording three birdies and four bogeys in the morning round and trading one par for a birdie in the afternoon round.

“I hit my driver pretty well most of the day,” Nurski said. “My putter was a little suspect at times, but I made some good par putts. It saved me a little bit.”

Nurski will be the first alternate for the U.S. Open, making the trip only in the event Goss is unable to compete.

This was the first time that either Nurski or Garnett have cleared the local qualifying round to compete at the sectional level. And Nurski plans to get back again next season.

“Absolutely,” the Missouri Western graduate said. “I’ve got to get back for some revenge.”

Sports reporter Rick Dunaway can be reached at rickd@npgco.com