Aug. 10, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Max Scodro, a rising senior on the University of Notre Dame men’s golf team, has qualified to play in the 2011 United States Amateur Championship. The Chicago, Ill., native qualified for the field after carding a 142 (+2) at the sectional qualifying event held at Muskegon Country Club in Muskegon, Mich., to earn one of the three spots amongst the field.
“I am really happy to have qualified for the U.S. Amateur this year,” stated Scodro. “It is my first time playing in it and I am really excited to compete in our national championship.”
After an opening-round 75 (+5) put Scodro on the outside looking in to qualify, the 2011 BIG EAST Player of the Year and PING All-Midwest Region selection fired a closing 67 (-3) to place him in a three-way tie for the final two qualifying spots. The 67 was the lowest round shot and one of only two rounds to break 70 by any of the golfers in the field. With the first of two qualifying spots taken by Drew Preston after a birdie on the first playoff hole, Scodro recorded a birdie of his own on the second playoff hole after chipping in from just off the green to secure the final spot.
“It’s great to have one of our guys back competing in what is really the biggest tournament in the world for amateur golfers,” said Irish head coach Jim Kubinski. “We’ve had as many as four players (2006 U.S. Amateur at Merion) compete at any one U.S. Amateur in my time here, but missing out entirely last year was a bit of a disappointment. To have Max headed to Erin Hills representing the Fighting Irish in a major is exciting and well deserved.”
Scodro has enjoyed a busy season on the amateur circuit during the summer of 2011, playing in the Northeast Amateur, The Players Amateur and the Western Amateur prior to the U.S. Amateur qualifier. He made the cut at two of the events, finishing tied for 39th at the Players with a 72-hole score of 291 (+3) and 53rd at the Northeast Amateur with a four-round total of 286 (+7).
The 2011 U.S. Amateur is set to take place August 22-28 at Erin Hills and Blue Mound Golf and Country Club in Erin, Wisc., 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The first two rounds of competition will feature stroke-play scoring with the top 64 scores advancing to the single-elimination match-play format over the final five days.
–ND–