It was certainly not the largest crowd for which Tony Romo has ever played, but it might have been on the most unfamiliar territory. Romo was among the nearly 10,000 golfers trying to qualify for the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills this year, and his first test was on Monday at Split Rail Links & Golf Club in Aledo, Texas, against 116 other professional and amateur golfers (2013 Wells Fargo Championship winner Derek Ernst was in the field).

Romo shot a 3-over 75, missing out on a playoff by six strokes and failing to advance to sectional qualifying for the U.S. Open. The top seven advanced, and Romo finished T40. Even if he had made it into sectionals, Romo still would've had to finish at the top of that tournament against more seasoned professionals to make his way to Erin Hills.

After a poor start on the front nine, Romo tried to mount a charge down the stretch. He birdied the 10th hole and eagled the 14th before he was undone by a triple bogey on the par-4 15th and his hopes faded.

"I'm just starting back up," Romo said after his round. "There's some good signs. I actually hit the ball pretty well today. It was tough conditions. I obviously had a big mistake on one hole, but other than that I played pretty well. I need to play tournament golf. Golf and tournament golf are two completely different deals when you're just out there.

"I grinded today. I three-putted four times and I had the bad hole, and that's the day. Against really good players that's really what it comes down to. I just need to tighten that up."

Edward Loar took medalist honors with a 66, and Ernst finished T2 with a 67.

This is not the first time the now-retired Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS Sports broadcaster has failed to get into the U.S. Open. Romo shot a 75 back in 2008 when he tried to qualify and missed out on a playoff at his local qualifier by four strokes.Â