For a few moments, Derek Bayley thought his run of close calls at U.S. Open local qualifiers was going to continue.

Bayley, the former Lakeland High star who recently completed his freshman season on the Washington State men's golf team, finished second at a local qualifier Wednesday at Settlers Bay Golf Course in Wasilla, Alaska, with a 2-under-par 68, one stroke behind the winner, Rob Nelson of Anchorage, Alaska.

A total of 12 players were competing for one spot in a U.S. Open sectional.

But Nelson declined the bid, meaning Bayley, the first alternate, advances to a sectional June 8.

"Hat's off to him; he played one stroke better than me," Bayley said. "I can't say how fortunate I am to still be going."

Playing in the second-to-last group on Wednesday, Bayley thought he had a six-shot lead with just the final group, which included Nelson, left. Then Bayley's dad, Mike, told him Nelson was 3-under with two holes left.

"I put my face in my hands and said, 'You've got to be kidding me,'" Bayley said.

Bayley also finished second in each of his last two qualifiers in Alaska - by one stroke last year, and by three strokes in 2013.

But Nelson, 47, told Bayley after he finished that he was "98 percent sure" he wasn't going to accept the bid to the sectional, but he would have to talk it over with his wife, and would decide for sure the next day.

Late Thursday afternoon, Bayley received an email from a USGA official confirming that Nelson had opted out, and that Bayley was moving on.

"It made me feel better, because I had played well," Bayley said. "I hit the ball on the flag all day."

Bayley will find out Tuesday which sectional he will be assigned to. Players list three preferences, and his first option is Tumble Creek in Cle Elum, Wash. His section option is a sectional in California - the only other sectional on the West Coast.

All sectional qualifiers are one-day, 36-hole events.

"The way I handled myself down the stretch will help me at sectional for sure," Bayley said.