CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In the lead up to May, Colin Salema spent as much time as he could at Providence Country Club, working on his game.
"Definitely some nerves," he said. "Trying to get out here as much as I can."
Salema might have been born to hit a golf ball.
"My grandpa got me into the game when I was the fresh age of two," he said. "So I've been playing for a little bit."
Now, Salema is taking his biggest swing yet, and attempting to qualify for this year's U.S. Open, at Pinehurst Course No. 2.
He will play in a qualifying event on Wednesday, May 1, on Pinehurst Course No. 6.
"I've had this date marked on my calendar for a long time," Salema said.
Salema is already an accomplished golfer despite just being a senior at Providence High School. He finished as state runner up in North Carolina, and in 2023 placed fourth in the Carolinas Amateur Championship.
Salema also has a victory at Pinehurst, recently taking the North and South Amateur Championship there in 2022.
"After that was really where it kind of jump-started my whole recruitment process," he said.
The winner for Salema's services next year as a college golfer? The Clemson Tigers.
"I'm grateful to be able to go there," he said. "It's my dream school."
Until then, he's aiming for his dream of playing the U.S. Open at Pinehurst.
"You've got to bring your A-game," he said. "It's all or nothing."
The 2024 U.S. Open Golf Championship is June 13-16, and can be watched on WCNC Charlotte.