Graham Earns Berth To U.S. Amateur Championship

Aggie junior takes medalist honor at sectional tournament; Raber nearly joins him USGA event

Austin Graham has won three tournaments this summer.
 
Austin Graham has won three tournaments this summer.
  

Aug. 2, 2009

DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis standout Austin Graham continued an impressive summer of golfing competition last week, capturing medalist honors during sectional qualifying at Red Hill Country Club in Southern California and earning a berth to the U.S. Amateur Championships in Tulsa, Okla., in late August.

Graham, a junior from San Clemente, had back-to-back rounds of 69 and 71 at the par-72 course to finish at 4-under for three-shot victory over Chris Gilman of Yorba Linda and Sam Chien of Evanston, Ill., who also qualified. A total of 71 players competed in the tournament, trying for just three available spots to the national championship.

Graham had four birdies in his first round at the 6,578-yard course before adding five more in the second to help him secure top honors. He'll compete at the U.S. Amateur Championship from Aug 24-30 at Southern Hills Country Club and Cedar Ridge Country Club along with 311 other amateur players.

He earned the sectional-qualifying title last week after winning the Long Beach City Championship in mid-July then following the next weekend with a prestigious win at the 110th Southern California Golf Association Championship at Wilshire Country Club.

"Austin is playing at a level commensurate with the best amateurs in the world so he belongs in this event," said UC Davis head coach Cy Williams. "It's difficult to qualify for the U.S Amateur since there are only three spots available at each quaifying site, so this is another outstanding accomplishment for him this summer. I have no doubt he'll be prepared to make a deep run in the Amateur. He certainly has the game for it."

UC Davis sophomore Tyler Raber nearly gave the Aggies two representatives at the U.S. Amateur, tying for third with three other players during sectional qualifying at Brookside Country Club last week but finishing second during a playoff for the final berth from the tournament. Raber, who prepped at Davis High School, had solid rounds of 71 and 69 to post a 4-under total of 140. He is the first alternate for the tournament.


 

 

UC Davis will open its 2009-10 season on Sept. 14-15 at the Washington State Invitational.