One of the strongest groups I can remember will be trying to secure one of four spots in Monday's U.S. Open local qualifier at Colonie Country Club.

Twenty groups, including 28 amateurs and 30 pros, will tee it up in hopes of moving on to the next 36-hole sectional round. From there, the top players advance to the U.S. Open, to be held June 12-15 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.

The second group out, at 8:10 a.m., features Dan Russo of Rolling Hills at Antlers and host pro Frank Mellet. That duo should cruise around the Colonie CC layout quite easily. Mellet, one of the top local pros, should be able to use his course knowledge to gain a qualifying berth. He's usually among the top competitors in this event, even when it's not contested at his own course. Russo, who has won virtually every major tournament in the Capital Region, is already off to a fine start after teaming up with Bill Sullivan to win the Stadium Classic.

Remi Bouchard of Canada is also in the field. He's qualified here before, and I'm sure he could be a factor once more. Another familiar face is Ron Philo Jr., a Scotia native who now lives in Amelia Island, Fla. Philo has qualified here several times. The brother of LPGA standout Laura Diaz has won the National Club Pro Championship a few years ago at the Turning Stone Resort.

Glenn Davis, the head pro at Albany Country Club, which is just around the corner from Colonie CC, is also a steady player who seems to be in the qualifying mix every year. Jim Gifford, The Edison Club member who recently won the Tri-County Match Play title at Colonie CC, certainly knows the layout and has qualified before.

Other young players to keep an eye on are Justin Deitz of The Edison Club, Shenendehowa High School's Ryan Simpson, who a couple of years ago was the youngest player in the nation trying to qualify for the U.S. Open, and former Pinehaven Country Club standout Bryan Bigley, who recently turned pro and is coming back to the area to try to qualify.

It should be quite a show. I wouldn't be surprised to see a huge playoff for the final qualifying spot.