Marek Fleming

Marek Fleming is an amateur golfer from Tomball, Texas, who competes for the University of South Carolina, where he is also a finance major. A multi-sport athlete in high school, he was a standout switch-hitting baseball player at Tomball before focusing on golf, compiling a strong junior resume that included a T-4th finish at the 115th Texas Amateur, third place at the 2023 Houston City Amateur, and runner-up medalist at the 2023 Greenwood Cup. He originally committed to Purdue under coach Rob Bradley before following Bradley to South Carolina.

Fleming made an immediate impact as a Gamecock, posting a 72.86 scoring average across 29 rounds as a freshman in 2024-25, the fifth-lowest by a first-year player in program history. He was named SEC Men's Golf Freshman of the Week and recorded top-16 finishes at the Puerto Rico Classic and the Linger Longer Invitational, while also earning a spot on the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll.

Fleming reached the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills through the two-stage qualifying process. He shot 2-under 69 at local qualifying at Solina Golf Club in West Columbia, South Carolina, then advanced through Golf's Longest Day at Del Paso Country Club in Sacramento, California, carding rounds of 69-69 for a four-under total of 138. With seven birdies and an eagle across the two rounds, he made par on the final hole to grab the fourth and last qualifying spot at the site by one stroke.

The appearance marks Fleming's major championship debut. He had previously played in three U.S. Amateurs (2022, 2023 and 2025), finishing T-48th in stroke play at the 2025 edition. His qualification gave South Carolina a U.S. Open representative for the second straight year, following All-American Frankie Harris's run to Oakmont in 2025.