By Pete Borello

Adam Sollers didn’t let the pressure of playing for a spot in the prestigious United States Open golf tournament get to him.

The Los Altos Hills resident said he approached last week’s U.S. Open sectional qualifier as a learning experience.

“I was out there trying to have a good time,” said Sollers, who just finished his freshman year at the University of Arizona. “I knew I would have to play perfect golf to qualify.”

Sollers didn’t. He finished 52nd out of 70 golfers at Lake Merced Golf & Country Club in Daly City, shooting a two-round score of 153.

The top three finishers in each of the eight sectionals held around the country June 3 move on to this week’s U.S. Open in New York to play against the likes of Tiger Woods and Ernie Els.

Sollers opened the sectional qualifier with a 76 in the first round, in which he double-bogeyed his 16th hole.

“That was too bad,” he said. “I messed up one hole and ruined that round.”

Sollers shaved a swing off his score in the second round, despite a disastrous start.

“I started out with an 8,” the St. Francis High graduate said. “I hit into the trees behind about 25 or 30 spectators and I lost the ball.”

Sollers recovered to play even-par until the 18th, which he bogeyed.

He earned a berth in the sectional by finishing among the top three at a U.S. Open local qualifier held May 20 at Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club in Menlo Park.

Sollers was one of only 27 amateurs to play in the sectional at Lake Merced, and he’d like to make a return visit.

“It was pretty great to be there and to see some of the top professionals,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll get the same chance next year.”