The opportunity was too tempting to pass up — even if it meant flying overnight to England to meet it.

Nathan Smith, 29, a North Hills resident and a member of St. Jude Golf Club in Chicora, could not let a chance to qualify for the U.S. Open go by the boards.

So when the United States Golf Association called Friday afternoon to inform him there was an opening in Monday's sectional qualifier at Walton Heath Golf Club in England, south of London, he started packing.

And he took his caddy, his father Larry, with him.

Smith was a second alternate for a U.S. Open sectional qualifying spot after losing in a three-way playoff at Indiana Country Club in one of two Western Pennsylvania qualifiers recently.

He birdied the first playoff hole at Indiana before tasting defeat on the next hole.

"I was shocked I got a phone call at all," Smith said. "I've been a first alternate before and never got a call. If I could arrange it, I was going.

"I was telling my wife, it seems strange flying to England to try to qualify for a tournament taking place 20 minutes from my house. But it's the U.S. Open. It's Oakmont. It's once in a lifetime. I've never played in the U.S. Open and I had to try."

He gave it a valiant effort at that.

Smith and his father flew out of the Cleveland airport at 7:50 p.m. Saturday and landed in England — less than 10 miles from the course — at 7:20 a.m. Sunday.

The 36-hole qualifier, consisting of 18 holes on two different courses, was Monday.

"I was too tired to play any Sunday,"Smith said. "I hit a few balls and walked one of the courses while my dad walked the other. Then we compared notes."

Smith carded an even-par 72 during the first round and was 1-under-par for the day midway through the second round.

"I figured I needed to finish at least 3-under to have a chance (at one of the U.S. Open qualifying spots),"Smith said. "I had to start taking some chances.

"During the final nine holes, it started drizzling and it got windy. It was hard to do anything but make par."

Smith finished that second round with a 3-over 75 and carded a 147 for the day, eight shots back from the highest Open qualifying score.

"I played really well, better than I thought I would,"he said. "Fatigue never settled in. I think I was playing on adrenaline.

"That trip was worth it to me. I'd never been over there. I got the chance to play those courses and walk the fairways with some of the country's best golfers. It was definitely a worthwhile experience."

Smith returned from England Tuesday afternoon. His hectic pace of golf continues this weekend as he attempts to play in the Sunnehanna Amateur, which begins Thursday in Johnstown.

He won his second consecutive West Penn Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship last week. carding a 66-66-132 at Meadville Country Club.

"I'm going to do my best to be there,"Smith said. "But right now, I'm pretty tired."