Now Trojan Alum Qualifies for US Amateur Championships
Recently graduated Trevecca Nazarene University men's golfer Blain Turner (bio) qualified for the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship with a 10-under-par 132 in a qualifying event hosted by the USGA at Tennessee Grasslands – the Lakes Course. Turner is one of 321 qualifiers nationally who advance to Paramus, NJ for the 122nd US Amateur Open. There are 94 qualifier tournaments from June 27 to July 27.
David Head, Trevecca Director of Golf, is proud of one of his Trojans making a dream come true, "Blain often shared that qualifying for the US Amateur Championship was his goal. And now, he has qualified for the world's most prestigious amateur golf championship. Of course, it is a fantastic accomplishment. But, knowing Blain the way I do, he isn't satisfied with qualifying for the event; he wants to go and play well against the best amateurs in the world. So, I wish him all the best in the U.S. Am and starting his professional career in a couple of weeks. I can't imagine a better way to end your amateur career and start your professional career than playing in this most prestigious tournament."
Turner sank 11 birdies over the 36 holes to card two rounds of 66. Turner had a run of three consecutive birdies each round. He shot a 31 on the front nine of each round. Turner owns numerous Trevecca and Great Midwest Athletic Conference men's golf career records.
The qualifying event was scheduled as a one-day (Monday, July 18) event but stretched from Monday to Tuesday due to inclement weather. Turner shared the Medalist title with ETSU golfer Carson Kammann (Knoxville). Kammann also recorded two rounds of 66. There were three qualifiers from the event, the third is Jansen Preston of Vanderbilt. He carded a 133 to finish third for the final ticket to the U.S. Amateur Open.
The 122nd US Amateur Open is August 15-21 at The Ridgewood Country Club (dating to 1929), and the stroke-play co-host venue is the Arcola Country Club (dating to 1909), also in Paramus. Ridgewood (architect A.W. Tillinghast w/ renovations by Gil Hanse in 2000) will play to a par of 71 over 7,487 yards. The Arcola (architect Herbert H. Barker/Williams G. Wilkinson w/ renovations by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Steve Smyers) will play to a par of 70 over 7,256 yards.
The championship will be broadcast on The Peacock Network and The Golf Channel.
The starting field of 312 golfers of the more than 8,000 who attempted qualification for the U.S. Amateur Championship will play 18 holes of stroke play on Aug. 15 and 16, with one round at Ridgewood and one at nearby Arcola Country Club, the stroke-play co-host for the championship, after which the field will be cut to the low 64 scores. Six rounds of match play begin on Wednesday, Aug. 17, and the championship concludes with a 36-hole championship match on Sunday, Aug. 21. The winner and runner-up are exempt from the following year's U.S. Open Championship at The Los Angeles Country Club.