News

Leow and Lewis Advance to U.S. Amateur

James Leow and Trevor Lewis advanced to the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship after 36 qualifying holes in the grueling humidity and heat at Alta Mesa Golf Club on Tuesday. For the first time since 2019, the United States Golf Association is holding qualifying across 92 sites for the U.S. Amateur Championship, scheduled Aug. 9-15 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Penn.

Leow, 24, of Singapore, went wire-to-wire to claim medalist honors with a 36-hole total of seven-under-par 137.

“It is definitely a lot of excitement to go to Oakmont and play the top amateurs – it’s big-time,” the medalist said.

The Arizona State incoming senior entered the second and final round tied with Jimin Yoo at five-under-par. He turned in a three-under-par 33 on the back nine of the final round to close out with a two-under-par 70, clinching medalist honors by two shots.

“Last year I made it through rankings so never have actually played a U.S. Amateur qualifier before,” said Leow “This shows that I belong playing in those big elite fields and I am definitely looking forward to it.”

Leow, a top-300 ranked amateur golfer in the world, will be playing in his second consecutive U.S. Amateur Championship – his World Amateur Golf Ranking earned him an exemption into the 2020 field. This imposing qualifying performance comes just seven months after undergoing surgery in December – he has also managed a win at the Southwestern Amateur in the two months since returning.

“It was definitely tough the first five months back from surgery because I couldn’t really walk and had to do rehab every other day while my teammates were traveling and competing for the team,” Leow said.  “It was tough but I kept my head down and kept doing what I needed to. I worked out hard, practiced as well as I could and focused on the short game. It helped my mentality that I can play when I am ready to – I have no excuse. It is great to be healthy again.”

Lewis, 18, of Prescott, Ariz., qualified for his first U.S. Amateur after posting a five-under-par 139. With an opening round three-under-par 69, the incoming Embry-Riddle freshman entered the final 18 just two back of a qualifying spot. A two-under-par 70 earned him the second and final qualifying spot by a slim one shot. This not only marks Lewis’s first U.S. Amateur but also his first USGA Championship he has ever qualified for.

“It is really cool,” Lewis said. “Unfortunately, I have never been able to sneak into a U.S. Junior Amateur – this is my first year competing in the U.S. Amateur qualifier. The last few tournaments haven’t been quite what I wanted – it is pretty surreal to actually make it to the amateur.”

Trevor Lampson and Joseph Lloyd will serve as first and second alternates after finishing qualifying at three-under-par.

The U.S. Amateur Championship, first contested in 1895, is the oldest of the 14 championships conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA). With a thrilling 7,811 (most since 1999) applications accepted by the USGA, 312 of the world’s best amateur golfers will take on “The Ultimate Test in Golf” this August, returning to Oakmont Country Club for the fifth time since 1919. The Championship is conducted over seven consecutive days, where two rounds of qualifying stroke play and six rounds of match play determine who will hoist the Havemeyer Trophy.

For Full results: Click Here