GROVE CITY — When it comes to golf, Derek Forese is going places.

The 2008 Grove City High graduate made the cut at Tuesday’s U.S. Open local qualifier at Grove City Country Club, shooting an even par 71 (34-37) and placing third.

The effort sends him to Springfield Country Club in Ohio for a sectional qualifier June 3. By making the cut there, he will advance to the 2013 U.S. Open, to be held June 13-16 at Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia.

Forese’s round included three birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey.

He began playing at Grove City Country Club at a young age and spent four years sinking putts there for the high school’s varsity team. So, he knows the course about as well as anybody, but had doubts on his chances to advance on Tuesday.

“I played well on holes 2-16, but double-bogeyed on 17 (par 4),” he said. “I figured my chances were done, but when I got to the clubhouse, the scores were not as low as I thought they’d be.”

It is not the first time Forese, 23, has thrown his hat into the U.S. Open qualifying rounds.

“I played in a local qualifier when I was 18,” he said. “It was held at Quicksilver (Golf Club) and I did not play well. But it did expose me to the tournament atmosphere and I just tried to take it all in.”

Forese has spent much of his time on golf courses over the last five years.

After playing as a freshman at Clarion University in 2008-09, Forese headed to California, where he enrolled at Golf Academy of America in San Diego. He spent two years as an assistant pro at Bermuda Dunes Country Club near Palm Springs. He also competed on the Golden State Tour as an amateur.

It all added up to one big learning experience.

“There are so many good golfers in California,” Forese said. “I basically improved in every area of my game and it gave me the confidence that I can play with anybody.”

In fact, Forese’s game has improved so much that he is taking it to the next level and will be joining the eGolf Professional Tour later this season. The schedule includes an average of three events per month and runs through October. Included are tournaments in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

“I was able to get sponsorships from both California and some of the members at Grove City Country Club,” said Forese. “Between tournament entry fees and the general cost of living, you can’t do it without sponsors. Turning pro has been on my mind for a while.”