Incoming Pacer to Compete in US Amateur Championship

ERIN, Wis. – University of South Carolina Aiken freshman Andrew Ward recently qualified for the United States Amateur Championship.

Ward (York, S.C./Clover), who is attending his first day of classes at USC Aiken today, qualified for the US Amateur Championship by carding a two-round tally of 6-under-par 138 at the 6,791-yard, par 72 Pinewood Country Club in Asheboro, N.C.

The US Amateur Championship will be contested Aug. 22-28 at the 7,760-yard, par 72 Erin Hills Golf Club in Erin, Wis. It is the first US Amateur Championship to be held in Wisconsin.

Eighteen holes of stroke play are scheduled for Aug. 22 and 23, after which the field will be cut to the low 64 scorers. Six rounds of match play will begin on Aug. 24 and the championship concludes with a scheduled 36-hole final match on Aug. 28.

The winner of the US Amateur Championship receives an exemption from local and sectional qualifying for the next US Open and an exemption for qualifying for the next 10 US Amateur Championships. The winner will also receive an exemption for the next British Open Championship and a likely invitation to the next Masters Tournament.

The US Amateur Championship is free to the public and for those unable to make it you can watch it live on the Golf Channel and NBC. The Golf Channel will broadcast the US Amateur Championship on Aug. 24 (3-5 p.m.), Aug. 25 (1-3 p.m.) and Aug. 26 (1-3 p.m.). NBC will take over the broadcast on Aug. 27 (4-6 p.m.) and Aug. 28 (4-6 p.m.).

For more information on the 2011 US Amateur Championship, please visit the official website: http://www.usga.org/ChampEventSite.aspx?id=17179869326

You can also learn more about the US Amateur Championship from this quick and easy fact sheet: http://www.2011usamateur.com/2011_U.S._Amateur_Fact_Sheet.pdf