BATON ROUGE — Eight members of the LSU men’s golf team are set to compete in a series of sectional qualifying tournaments beginning Tuesday to earn a spot in the 106th United States Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.
Senior Chris Wells looks to make his return to the U.S. Amateur Championship as he competed in the event at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., a year ago. Wells is one of three Tigers, including junior Beck Troutman and freshman Thomas Galloway, who will attempt to qualify at Dancing Rabbit Golf Club in Choctaw, Miss., from July 31-Aug. 1.
Junior Garrett Runion and freshman Brent Blaum will attempt to earn a spot in the championship in their home state of Florida. Runion will qualify at Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Point in Windermere, while Blaum is set to compete at Dye Preserve Golf Club in Jupiter beginning July 31. Blaum competed in the U.S. Amateur as a high school sophomore in 2004.
A pair of Tigers will tee off in the same group Tuesday as junior Brian Noonan and freshman Bryant Lach are scheduled to qualify at the Player Course at The Woodlands Country Club in The Woodlands, Texas. Qualifying at the Player Course is a two-day event that ends Wednesday.
Redshirt freshman Brian Leveille is the last Tiger to tee off in a sectional qualifier as he will compete at Raritan Valley Country Club in Bridgewater, N.J., on Aug. 7.
Hazeltine National is set to host the U.S. Amateur for the first time in its 44-year history as the tournament is scheduled for Aug. 21-27. The course has hosted six major championships in its history, including the U.S. Open Championship in 1970 and 1991 and the PGA Championship in 2002.