**UPS Driver Disqualified from U.S. Open Qualifier Due to Missed Signature**

Nick Barrett, a dedicated UPS driver from Catonsville, Maryland, found himself disqualified from a U.S. Open qualifying event due to a simple, yet significant oversight. The 31-year-old shot an impressive score of 73 during the first round at Woodmont Country Club in Maryland, but failed to sign his scorecard within the required time frame, resulting in his disqualification.

Barrett had earned his place in this qualifier by posting a remarkable score of 68 in an earlier U.S. Open qualifying round at Northwest Golf Course in Silver Spring on May 5. However, his promising start was derailed post-round when he misplaced his scorecard in his back pocket and only realized the mistake after taking a break for lunch. His delay in heading to the scorer's tent meant that by the time he arrived, officials had no choice but to disqualify him.

Reflecting on the incident, Barrett recounted, “I stood up after I had a hot dog or something at lunch, and I felt my back pocket, and I felt the scorecard in there, and as soon as I did that, my heart went straight to the bottom of my stomach.” Despite arriving at the scorer's tent 20 minutes after finishing his round, it was too late to rectify the error.

This unfortunate turn of events was even more disheartening as Barrett had around 40 family members present, all keen to see him succeed. He accepted full responsibility for the oversight, stating, “It's really upsetting to go out like that because it wasn't anything I did on the course or because I signed something wrong. I just got caught up in the moment. That was my responsibility, and I just didn't do it.”

Barrett, who had previously reached the final qualifying stage for the U.S. Open in 2023 and advanced to the Round of 32 in the 2024 U.S. Mid-Amateur, was confident about his performance that day. “I was starting to feel a little bit more comfortable with my game. I'm not saying I was going to go out there and shock the world, but I was feeling a lot better after playing the first round. It's just a real shame that I couldn't go back out there,” he lamented.

With his disqualification behind him, Barrett is now focused on learning from the experience and preparing for his next golfing event, hopeful for another opportunity to showcase his talent.