Senior Jack Watson qualifies for USGA Amateur Championships
July 22, 2014 | Men's Golf
July 22, 2014
CHICAGO, Ill. -- Senior Jack Watson tied for third in the USGA Chicago District qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Championship July 21-22 and advances to the national tournament in August held in Atlanta.
The Lincolnshire, Illinois, native, shot a 2-under 70-70--140 on the par 71, 6,690-yard Onwentsia Club in Lake Forest, Ill., to be one of three qualifiers to advance in the 56-player field.
Watson will be one of 312 competitors that will compete in the U.S. Amateur Championships Aug. 11-17 at the Atlanta Athletic Club's Highlands Course In Atlanta, Georgia. The course will be set up at 7,490 yards and will play to a par of 35-36-71. The companion stroke-play qualifying course, Atlanta Athletic Club's Riverside Course will be set up at 7,381 yards and will play to a par of 36-36-72.
The last Badger to play in a U.S. Amateur was UW's all-time leading scorer, Dan Woltman, who played at Southern Hills Golf Course in Farmington, Minnesota, in 2009. Woltman's 73.28 career scoring average was set that same year.
As a redshirt senior, Watson led the Badgers last season with his 18-hole career-best season scoring average of 74.83. He was the first player to average a 74 since the 2010-11 season.
He had a career-best tournament finish at the Wendy's Kiawah Classic (Nov. 3-5), tying for ninth place with a 3-over par 79-75-75=219 which was a 54-hole career-best. He was one of three Badgers placing among the top 25 at the Big Ten Championships tying for 24th with 16-over par 78-71-80-75=304.
