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Incoming UNK Loper to Play in 112th U.S. Amateur Championships

Posted: 6:27 PM Jul 31, 2012
Reporter: Courtesy: UNK Media Relations

Nebraska-Kearney incoming freshman Michael Colgate qualified for the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championships by winning a three-hole playoff Tuesday in Naples, Fla.

The championships, which date back to 1895 and are among the most prestigious golf tournaments in America, will be held August 13-19 at Cherry Hills C.C. in Cherry HIlls Village, Colo. Previous winners include Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard and Mark O'Meara.

A native of Sarasota, Fla., Colgate was playing in an U.S. Amateur qualifier at Wyndemere C.C. The top two finishers in this 36-hole tournament would punch their ticket to Colorado.

Edward Figueroa, a freshman-to-be at Division I Florida Gulf Coast, repeated as champion with a two-day total of 143.

Colgate, a Sarasota High graduate, tied Chase Marinell, a junior at Division I Liberty (Va.) U., at the end of regulation, each firing a 144. In a field of over 30 golfers, Colgate had rounds of 71 and 73.

According to the Naples (Fla.) News, on the 18th hole, Colgate carded a bogey and then his group was docked a stroke for slow play. Playing in the last group, Marinell holed out from 60 yards to eagle the 18th and force an unlikely playoff.

Both Colgate and Marinell parred the first two holes. On the third hole, a par 3, Colgate sunk a six-foot birdie putt while Marinell's 15-foot birdie attempt missed the cup to the right.

Colgate comes to UNK with a bevy of other credentials. Last summer, he qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championships in Bremerton, Wash., and this year he tied for eighth at the Sarasota City Championship.

Courtesy: UNK Media Relations