UNCG's Terrance Stewart qualifies for U.S. Amateur Championship

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – UNC Greensboro men's golf coach Terrance Stewart shot a final-round 69 to earn a spot in the USGA's United States Amateur Championship during sectional qualifying at Two Rivers CC on Tuesday.

Arthur Zelmati , 21, of New York, N.Y., shot 6-under-par 138 to earn medalist honors in U.S. Amateur Championship 36-hole sectional qualifying at Two Rivers (6,868 yards, par 36-36—72). Zelmati followed his first day best 6-under-par round of 66 with even-par 72 on day two of qualifying.

Stewart, 37, of High Point, N.C., shot 5-under 139 (70-69) and secured the other available spot in qualifying for the national championship. Stewart posted one of two rounds in the 60s on the second day. He birdied five of the last seven holes to card his final-round 69 and earn a spot in the national tournament.

Scheduled from Aug. 24-30 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., the U.S. Amateur Championship is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. The tournament dates back to the 1890s.

The Amateur Championship is the oldest golf championship in this country — one day older than the U.S. Open. Except for an eight-year period, from 1965-72, when it was stroke play, the Amateur has been a match-play championship.

Over the years, as interest in the game grew and the number of quality players increased, it became necessary to establish a national handicapping system to determine who was eligible to compete in the Amateur. The USGA's first national handicap list, which was published for the 1912 Championship, was the forerunner of the present-day USGA Golf Handicap System.

Throughout its history, the U.S. Amateur has been the most coveted of all amateur titles. Many of the great names of professional golf, such as Gene Littler, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lanny Wadkins, Craig Stadler, Jerry Pate, Mark O'Meara, Hal Sutton, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, grace the Havemeyer Cup.

It was, however, longtime amateur Robert T. Jones Jr., who first attracted media coverage and spectator attendance at the Amateur Championship. Jones captured the championship five times (1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930). His 1930 victory was a stunning moment in golf history when, at Merion Cricket Club in Ardmore, Pa., Jones rounded out the Grand Slam, winning the four major American and British championships in one year.

Altogether, there were eight subpar rounds by the 46 competitors on the final day of qualifying.  

AGATE
Arthur Zelmati (New York, N.Y.), 66-72—138
Terrance Stewart (High Point, N.C.), 70-69—139
a – Joseph Rice (Dunkirk, Md.), 69-71—140
a – Douglas Hurson (Bethesda, Md.), 69-71—140
Tripp Brizendine (Morrisville, N.C.), 67-74—141
Sam Beach (Glen Allen, Va.), 69-73—142
Garland Green (Tazewell, Va.), 68-74—142
Scott Saal (Virginia Beach, Va.), 72-71—143
Michael Taylor (Ashland, Va.), 71-72—143
Charlie Gross (Raleigh, N.C.), 71-73—144
Adam Ball (Richmond, Va.), 71-73—144
Seth Norman (Norfolk, Va.), 73-71—144
Royce Kim (Yorktown, Va.), 71-74—145
Bryan Giles (Williamsburg, Va.), 71-74—145
Nick Austin (Midlothian, Va.), 74-71—145
Mark Teachey (Richmond, Va.), 75-70—145
Jason Robertson (Virginia Beach, Va.), 71-75—146
Ross Sumner (Callao, Va.), 72-75—147
Brent Martin (La Plata, Md.), 72-75—147
Mitch Wyatt (Salisbury, N.C.), 72-75—147
Wade Wawner (Virginia Beach, Va.), 75-73—148
Matthew Ball Jr. (Richmond, Va.), 72-76—148
Matthew Neely (Montpelier, Va.), 72-76—148
Garrison Fowler (Williamsburg, Va.), 77-72—149
Vincent Nadeau (Penhook, Va.), 73-76—149
Joseph Morton (Virginia Beach, Va.), 70-79—149
Michael Shrader (Midlothian, Va.), 71-79—150
Mike Redwood (Virginia Beach, Va.), 74-76—150
Mitch Bagley (Midlothian, Va.), 77-74—151
Austin Gray (Midlothian, Va.), 76-75—151
Chris Olson (Midlothian, Va.), 85-68—153
Brandon Baker (Virginia Beach, Va.), 76-77—153
Jeremy Wells (Hopewell, Va.), 79-76—155
Dennis Vasapoli (Falls Church, Va.), 77-80—157
Matt Brantingham (Richmond, Va.), 82-75—157
Joe Lefavor (Crownsville, Md.), 79-79—158
Gregory Reno (Newport News, Va.), 78-81—159
Kent Ryu (Virginia Beach, Va.), 83-78—161
Britt Parnell (Midlothian, Va.), 82-79—161
Kenneth Bartlett (Smithfield, Va.), 82-79—161
Aaron Eckstein (Salem, Va.), 82-79—161
Joseph Suarez (Richmond, Va.), 83-79—162
Joseph Mullen (Wake Forest, N.C.), 85-79—164
Rich Couture (Chesapeake, Va.), 81-85—166
Justin Roberto (Williamsburg, Va.), 85-85—170
Scott Anderson (Leesburg, Va.), 90-82—172
Keith Decker (Martinsville, Va.), 72-WD
Allen Barber (Yorktown, Va.), 75-WD
Charles E. Green III (Tazewell, Va.), 79-WD
Bryce Chalkey (Richmond, Va.), WD
Ryan McFarland (Leesburg, Va.), WD
Gary Stewart (York, Pa.), WD
Andrew Northcott (Williamsburg, Va.), DNS
Timmy Osterbind (Midlothian, Va.), DNS
Brendan Flatley (Virginia Beach, Va.), 76-WD
Forrest Shuford IV (Williamsburg, Va.), 75-NC

- UNCG -