Wednesday, July 19, 2017
by Saint Martin's Athletic Communications

SALEM, Ore. - Recently graduated Saint Martin's golfer Austin Spicer is the third GNAC golfer this season to earn a spot at the 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship after winning a qualifying tournament held on July 18 at the Creekside Golf Club.

Spicer earned the tournament's only automatic qualifying spot at the Oregon qualifier, winning by three strokes with a score of 3-under-par 142. The victory means Spicer will compete in the championship event, which takes place Aug. 14-20.

Spicer birdied the first hole on the first round before rounding out the front nine 3-over par. He quickly rebounded in the back nine, sinking three birdies to finish the first 18-holes just 1-over par 73 and two shots off the leader.

On the second round of the 36-hole qualifier, Spicer played flawlessly, recording birdies on the seventh, 10th and 16th holes while staying clear of any bogies. His 3-under 69 score propelled him to a first place finish at 2-under par 142, three strokes ahead of second place. 

"It is always great to see my past players continuing to have success after graduation," said head coach Kevin Bishop. "Austin is a very talented player and it should be a fantastic tournament experience for him playing in the United States Amateur. Hopefully, he will represent his ole' alma mater and sport with some Saint Martin's colors on the national scene at Riviera Country Club!"

Spicer becomes the third player with GNAC connections to qualify for the U.S. Amateur. Simon Fraser's Chris Crisologo, the 2016-17 GNAC Player of the Year, and Western Washington's Jake Koppenberg, the 2008 and 2009 GNAC Player of the Year, both earned entries in a qualifying tournament held earlier in July in Cle Elum, Wash.

The 2017 U.S. Amateur Championships take place from August 14-20 at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and the Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles. Crisologo and Koppenberg are among 312 players advancing to the championship out of of a total of 7,149 players initially accepted to play in qualifying tournaments. The first two rounds of the tournament will be stroke play with the top 64 players advancing to match play over the final five days of the tournament.