Laurentian student qualifies for US Amateur Championship

Laurentian Voyageur John Atherton has become the first golfer from the university to qualify for the prestigious US Amateur Championship. He qualified by shooting three-under-par score over 36 holes at The Links at Ivy Ridge in Akron, New York. His score earned him a second place finish at the qualifier and a spot at the 2008 US Amateur, to be held at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina from August 18-24.

"I went into the qualifier with no expectations, as I only went because a group of guys from the club were going," Atherton said. "I played well and was very mentally tough. That is the secret to a great golf game."

In the first round of the qualifier, the 20-year-old shot an even-par 72, carding one birdie, two bogey's and six pars on the front nine and two birdies, one bogey and six pars on the back nine. The LU student finished his second round, and the tournament, three-under par. His two-round score total was 141.

Atherton is quite reasonably in a small state of shock as he starts to prepare to take on the best amateurs in the world in a little over two weeks, a Laurentian press release stated.

"This whole opportunity is unbelievable and I never would have dreamed it," Atherton said. "I am happy to play with the best amateurs in the world and learn their stories. Most of these players have full scholarships and dedicate their lives to this game. I'm an avid golfer in the summer but don't play year-round."

Leading up the U.S. Amateur, the third-year Sports Administration student plans to work on his short game, which he said "is a key to being successful at Pinehurst."

The tournament is a combination of stroke play and match play formats. The first two rounds will be stroke play on Aug. 18 and 19, at which time the top 64 players will enter into a match play format for the remainder.

"By qualifying for this tournament I really proved to myself that I can do anything and don't know where my golf career will take me," Atherton added. This tournament will make me a better golfer and I just hope I don't get caught up in the atmosphere too much. Finishing in the top-100 is the goal and if I make the match play round, I will be extremely happy."

For more information on the U.S. Amateur, including scoring information, visit www.usamateur.org .