updated 11:47 p.m. ET June 2, 2008

UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio - After playing four difficult days at the Memorial, Davis Love III made it through 36 holes on Monday to qualify for his 18th consecutive trip to the U.S. Open.

Fred Couples and several other PGA Tour players weren’t nearly so fortunate.

Love’s streak of 70 consecutive majors ended when he failed to qualify for the Masters, and there were no guarantees he would play in the next major until he followed a 72 at Brookside with a 5-under 66 at the tougher Ohio State Scarlet Course to become one of 23 players at the sectional qualifier to earn a trip to Torrey Pines.

It was one of 13 qualifiers held Monday in the United States, with another one in Europe.

Most of the PGA Tour players were at the Columbus sectional, having been in town for the Memorial. Love and Couples each played four days at Muirfield Village, then had to get up before the break of dawn.

“It’s a long week,” Love said. “That was a long, hard golf course to play and then to do anything on Monday, much less play 36 holes ... I know the guys that played four rounds over there were battle-tested, but they were also tired.”

Couples, who had said this might be the last time he tries to qualify, opened with a 69 at Brookside, but a 72 on the Scarlet kept him out of the playoff by two shots. He didn’t sign his scorecard and was disqualified.

With an 11-man playoff for the final seven spots, Chad Campbell and Rocco Mediate were among those who made it through before darkness. Oklahoma State freshman Rickie Fowler was among three players who had to return Tuesday morning for two spots.

Carl Pettersson was the medalist at 131, followed by Bart Bryant at 134. Of those who made it, none was more thrilled than Pat Perez, who said last week he would rather qualify for the U.S. Open than win the Memorial.

“It was hard this morning on the first tee after getting up,” Perez said. “I’m absolutely dead. I’m not going to do anything until I get to Torrey on Saturday. I’m not touching a club until then. But it’s always worth it to play in a major — especially this one.”

Perez grew up around Torrey Pines, worked at the public golf course as a teenager and figures he has played there over 1,000 times.

Others who qualified included Ben Crane, Joe Ogilvie, Nick Watney, Jesper Parnevik and Dean Wilson. Kevin Tway, a former U.S. Junior Amateur champion and son of former PGA champion Bob Tway, also qualified.

Among those who failed to qualify were the father-son tandem of Jay and Bill Haas; Sam Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer; Tom Lehman and Chris DiMarco.

Across town at Springfield Country Club, all six spots went to players who had to first go through 18-hole local qualifying, led by Peter Tomasulo with rounds of 63-65. Daryl Fathauer failed to qualify, while his twin brother, Derek, was among the 23 players who made it at the qualifier featuring PGA Tour players.

More PGA Tour players were outside Memphis, Tenn., for this week’s tournament, and John Merrick was the medalist as 14 players earned their spot in the U.S. Open. Also getting in was Mathew Goggin of Australia, who lost a three-shot lead at the Memorial, Brett Quigley and Kevin Streelman, who played with Tiger Woods in the final group of the third round at the Buick Invitational this year.

Among those who failed to qualify in Tennessee was Paul Goydos, who lost in a playoff at The Players Championship.

In other sectionals:

—Former PGA champion Rich Beem has never made the cut at the U.S. Open, but he won’t stop trying. He was 5 over through eight holes of the second round in Richmond, Texas, before running off five birdies to get one of two spots. Beem shared medalist honors with Charlie Beljan, who reminded Beem how meaningful it is to play in the U.S. Open.

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“The last hole is a par 5 with water down the right,” Beem said. “This kid hits driver to about 135 yards and lays up. He was so nervous about hitting in the water.”

Another former PGA champion, Steve Elkington, missed by two shots.

—Mark O’Meara, who now competes on the 50-and-older Champions Tour, qualified in Lake Forest, Ill., where five players competing in a playoff for the final spot were not likely to finish until Tuesday.

—Jason Bohn, Matt Kuchar and D.J. Trahan qualified at Ansley Golf Club in Roswell, Ga., although Trahan took the third and final spot in a playoff. Ollie Schniederjans, at 14 the youngest of more than 830 players to reach sectional qualifying, shot 72-76 to finish well back. Billy Andrade also failed to qualify.

—In Tequesta, Fla., Bobby Collins and Philippe Gasnier of Brazil earned two of the three spots, with three players going after the final spot Tuesday morning in a playoff.

—In Daly City, Calif., Jason Gore returns to the U.S. Open for the first time since he played in the final group at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2005. Gore shared medalist honors and earned one of seven spots. Among those failing to qualify was Kevin Sutherland.

—Bob Gaus got the lone spot in Augusta, Mo., rallying with a 66 in the final round to win by one shot.

—David Hearn of Canada and Brian Bergstol captured the two spots in Beallsville, Md.

—In Purchase, N.Y., Mike Gilmore got the fourth and final spot in a playoff. Kevin Silva was the medalist, and all four players who qualified began their quest at local qualifying. Brad Faxon, competing for the first time this year after knee surgery, shot 79-77.

—Brian Kortan and Jay Choi earned the two spots in Littleton, Colo., both making it through two stages of qualifying.

—Canadian amateur Nick Taylor and Rob Rashell earned the two spots in Creswell, Ore.

—In England, Robert Dinwiddie birdied six of his last eight holes, including an 8-footer on the 18th at Walton Heath, to earn one of seven spots. The medalists were Alastair Forsyth and Ross Fisher. Nearly 20 players withdrew, so the USGA awarded seven spots to European Tour players instead of 10.

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