— STILLWATER – It’s been nearly a year since Morgan Hoffmann bid Oklahoma State ado after his junior year ended shy of a national title.

Hoffmann had already claimed his second Big 12 Conference individual crown in three years, been a part of three Big 12 championship teams and was on the 2010 NCAA runner-up squad. Aside from a national championship, Hoffmann really had nothing more to prove at OSU.

And so, it was time for him to move on – to the Nationwide Tour.

While he may still be working to earn his PGA Tour card, he accomplished something – outside 155 other golfers – dreamed to have done. He qualified for the 112th edition of the U.S. Open to be held at The Olympic Club in San Francisco starting Thursday.

“It’s awesome. It’s an experience of a lifetime,” Hoffmann said. “I’m going to have a good friend and buddy of mine on the bag, so I’m just so excited to show him everything.”

Hoffmann definitely had to earn his way into the field, too. The former Cowboy had to battle it out in a 4-for-3 playoff – four players fighting for three spots – at the Columbus, Ohio, qualifier.

Things could have kind south on the first playoff hole, as Hoffmann hit his tee shot over the green a par 3 hole, while the remaining players were all on the green. But the two-time Big 12 champ looked into his bag of tricks and scrambled to make par with the rest of the golfers to advance to the next playoff hole.

“I guess I had a little bit of adrenaline and hit it over the green, but knew I needed to make a par or my chances of getting into the Open were gone,” Hoffmann said. “I just bared down and made it and it was just a great feeling.”

On the next hole, Hoffmann made a birdie to be the first golfer in the playoff to clinch a berth.

Maybe it’s the winning nature of his housemate rubbing off on him that has led the former Cowboy into the field of 156 for the U.S. Open. Since leaving Stillwater, Hoffmann has moved to Jupiter, Fla., and is roommates with fellow OSU golfer Rickie Fowler – who recently won his first PGA Tour event.

“It’s been a great experience, and learning a lot from him,” Hoffmann said.

Hoffmann said the housemates hadn’t practiced together for the major event, as Hoffmann competed in a Nationwide Tour event in Mexico over the weekend – where he finished tied for 35th, his best finish on the Nationwide this year – and Fowler has been practicing in San Diego.

Aside from Hoffmann and Fowler, OSU has six other former golfers that made the U.S. Open field. The eight representatives are the program’s most since nine Cowboys played in the 1986 U.S. Open.

The remaining Oklahoma State representatives include Charles Howell III, Hunter Mahan and Bo Van Pelt, who were among the 76 players with full exemptions. Edward Loar, Alex Noren and Casey Wittenberg joined Hoffmann by advancing to the event through sectional qualifying.

This isn’t Hoffmann’s first shot at the U.S. Open trophy, however. As an amateur golfer in 2010, Hoffmann competed in his first U.S. Open in Pebble Beach, Calif., and missed the cut by one stroke.

“Missing the cut by a shot was a great experience. Only to have two bad holes showed me I could play with those guys out there,” Hoffmann said. “I feel I should do pretty well this time. Both courses are pretty similar and are very difficult – which I like playing the more difficult courses.”

– Jason Elmquist is the sports editor for The Stillwater NewsPress.