The Stanley Cup final may be in full swing, but NHL referee Garrett Rank has his sights set on another major sporting event.
The 30-year old amateur golfer from Elmira, Ont., earned a spot in the U.S. Open on Monday by finishing tied for first at a regional qualifying tournament.
Rank shot 2-under over the 36-hole event to earn one of the three spots available at Ansley Golf Club’s Settindown Creek Course near Roswell, Ga.
An accomplished amateur, Rank had to cut back on his time at the links when he became an NHL official in 2014. It was an offer he couldn’t turn down, especially after he put his golf goals on hold in 2011 to fight testicular cancer.
But he remained active when his schedule allowed.
He represented Canada alongside Austin Connelly at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and teed off at the 2016 Canadian Open, where he made the cut and finished tied for 77th.
The Georgia tournament was one of 12 regional qualifiers on Monday.