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Two More Lions Qualify for US Amateur Championship
July 28, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Over the past several years, summer has become a proving ground for LMU men's golfers both present, future and past. This summer has been no different as another pair of Lions have qualified for one of the top amateur tournaments around, the U.S. Amateur. Soon to be senior Blake Nicolai and 2009 WCC golfer of the year, Greg Moss, both became qualifiers for the U.S. Amateur Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., on August 24-30. Powered by a first-round 67, Nicolai finished in a tie for second with a two-round 144 at the U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying held at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif., on Monday. His final score of even-par was tied with Beau Hossler Jr. and one stroke behind winner Todd Pieri. The top three of each sectional qualifies for the U.S. Amateur in a month. Nicolai's opening round could have been the best of his golfing career at any stage. He posted six birdies and just one bogey for a 67 on the par-72, 6,919-yard course. He posted a 33 on the opening nine, and then after four pars to open the back nine, he went two-under par the final five holes, shooting three birdies and the one bogey. As for Moss, he too finished in a tie for second, posting a two-under 142 at the Sectional Qualifier held in Glendora, Calif., at the Glendora Country Club on Monday. Moss, who needed a big second round after an opening 73, came through in the clutch, posting a 69 in the final round to finish tied with Joshua Dupont and one stroke behind Jason Bittick. After three bogies and two birdies that led to the opening one-over par, Moss opened with a birdie on the first hole of the second round. He gave the stroke back on the par-4 sixth but finished the opening nine with a 35 thanks to birdie on No. 8. He hit par on No. 9, and then hit birdie, birdie, bogey, birdie on holes 10, 11, 12 and 13. He would go even par on the final four holes for a three-under 69 to qualify.
The pair of Lions are the third and fourth players in the last five years to play in the USGA's largest amateur championship. Brian Locke played in the 2007 and 2008 championship while Jason D'Amore played in 2004. - GO LIONS - |
