Drew Powell, 16, of Bangor got a taste of the big time last week when he played in a U.S. Open local qualifying tournament at Crumpin-Fox Golf Club in Bernardston, Massachusetts. It was one of 111 qualifying tournaments around the country between May 4 and 21.

Powell, a runner-up in the Maine Junior Championship last August, shot a 75, just missing a playoff for the final qualifying spot. If Powell had parred the 18th hole, a 413-yard par 4, he would have advanced to sectional qualifying with a 73. Four players qualified from a field of 69 golfers.

Powell had never played Crumpin-Fox. He headed directly to the course after playing in the Scott Robinson Memorial Junior Tournament in Roanoke, Virginia.

“I drove up Sunday, stepped out and played,” said Powell of the qualifier. “I was pretty close to qualifying. It was a lot of fun to play against the pros. There was a lot at stake.”

He said the qualifier served as valuable “experience down the road. I played pretty well but it was my short game and putting that bailed me out.”

Powell, who finished third in last summer’s Maine Amateur at The Woodlands Club, was 2 over after four holes but eagled the par-5 fifth to get back to even. He finished the front nine at 1-over 37. He was sailing on the back nine until the 18th.

“I hit my drive left and had to punch out of the woods,” said Powell. Then I hit my third shot into a greenside bunker, where it plugged. It was a rough finish.”

Powell plans a full summer of tournament activity, including the Maine Amateur, the Maine Junior, and trying to qualify for national junior tournaments.

“I’ve made some small changes to my swing, which has led to more consistency,” he said. “I’ve worked hard on getting stronger and have gained 15 yards in every club.”

Pros and amateurs who qualify at the local U.S. Open qualifiers (and players exempt from local qualifying) move on to 36-hole sectional qualifying at 12 sites. On Monday, there will be sectional qualifying at one site each in England and Japan. There will be 10 sectionals in the U.S. on June 8. If players pass those challenging tests, they’ll join the top names in men’s golf in the 156-player U.S. Open field.

The 115th Open will be played June 18-21 at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Washington. This is the first time the U.S. Open will take place in the Pacific Northwest.

THE MAINE STATE Golf Association named the recipients of its annual scholarship fund. The 15 scholars receive $1,500, renewable for up to four years of undergraduate education. Sullivan Tidd of Casco is the top scholar and receives an additional one-time grant of $500 as winner of the Winchenbach Award.

The other scholarship winners are: Parker Walker, Island Falls; Jenna Hallett, Presque Isle; Gavin Dugas, Pittsfield; Robbie Watson, Fort Fairfield; Craig Smith, Falmouth; Thomas Ackerman, Topsham; Taylor Morang, Winthrop; Kelsie Dessent, Fairfield; Ty Cowan, Madison; Thomas Foster, Augusta; Katie Pelletier, Caribou; Henry Laurita, Hope; Drew Long, Rockport; and Brody Campbell of Exeter.

Daulton Wickenden of Rockport received a one-time $500 Golf Contributions Award.

Since its inception in 1950, the MSGA Scholarship Fund, formerly the Maine Caddie Scholarship, has given more than $1.3 million to help Maine students pay for college. The fund has helped more than 500 students from more than 125 communities and all 16 counties in Maine.

TEE TO GREEN: Tommy Stirling of Gorham is an alternate for U.S. Open sectional qualifying. He shot a 69 in local qualifying May 11 at TPC Prestancia in Sarasota, Florida.

Mike Baker, a former golf pro at Bangor Municipal and Kebo Valley, played in the Senior PGA Championship in French Link, Indiana. Baker shot a 6-over 78 in the opening round Thursday, then carded an 81 in the second round.

Baker qualified for the Massachusetts Open last week. He is an assistant pro at Walpole Country Club in Massachusetts.

The championship tournament season for the Maine State Golf Association begins next Sunday with the Club Team Championship at Belgrade Lakes Golf Club. The next day, the Senior Club Team Championship will be played there.