Alex Noren qualifies for U.S. Open

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WALTON HEATH, England -- Alex Noren of Sweden qualified for the U.S. Open for the second straight year, while past and present European Ryder Cup captains Colin Montgomerie and Jose Maria Olazabal failed to do so.

Noren shot rounds of 67 and 68 in the 36-hole, qualifying tournament Monday. He joined Marc Warren of Scotland (70, 65) at 11 under as the leading players of the 11 qualifiers at Walton Heath.

"I went through this qualifying last year. It proved a turnaround in my season because I have always wanted to play a U.S. Open," Noren said. "I played Congressional last year where Rory (McIlroy) won and played all four rounds, so I was really pleased. It's just great to be going back again."

Warren will make his debut at a major after two prior attempts, in 2007 and 2008, to qualify from Walton Heath.

"I couldn't be more happy and really looking forward to the championship," he said.

The other qualifiers were: France's Gregory Bourdy and Raphael Jacquelin, England's Lee Slattery and Matthew Baldwin, Italy's Matteo Manassero, Denmark's Soren Kjeldsen, Finland's Mikko Ilonen, South Africa's George Coetzee and Ireland's Peter Lawrie.

Montgomerie revealed he made a 900-mile round trip on Sunday from Wentworth to the Scottish Open so he could use a new putter at Walton Heath.

The Scot, who led Europe to victory in the 2010 Ryder Cup, shot 68 and 70.

Olazabal shot 67 and 74.

The U.S. Open is June 14-17 at Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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