University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware Men's Golfer Kieran Purcell Qualifies For 2015 U.S. Amateur
7/8/2015 4:38:00 PM | Men's Golf
WEST NYACK, N.Y. -- Manhattan Woods Golf Club proved to be the correct place for Kieran Purcell to showcase his talents this week, as the University of Delaware men's golfer will move on to participate in the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship.
Purcell, who finished tied for third in the regional qualifier Tuesday at Manhattan Woods, completed the tournament with a three over par score of 73-74-147 and then won a tiebreaker to qualify for the Amateur Championship.
The 2015 U.S. Amateur will be held August 17-23 at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Illinois.
Purcell, a rising sophomore from Jersey City, N.J., is the third Blue Hen to qualify for the U.S. Amateur in the last seven years, joining Kevin McLister in 2009 and Justin Martinson in 2010.
Purcell came to play in the tournament and started off hot, shooting a one over par 73 in the first round of the qualifier. This included a one under par 35 on the back nine.
Round two was a similar story, as Purcell began the round with quick birdies on the first and third holes. After bogeying holes 5 and 7 to drop two shots, he battled for another birdie on the par-five eighth. Purcell concluded his front nine with a one under 35, bringing him to even par for the tournament.
The back nine in round two on the 6,922-yard course put Purcell to the test, as he tallied his only double bogey of the tournament on the 17th hole while following that up with a bogey on 18 as well.
After tying for third place, Purcell then defeated Manuel Arzuega and Xander McDonald-Smith in a playoff to capture his spot in the Amateur Championship.
Mike KeoghQualifying for the U.S. Amateur capped off an outstanding 2014-2015 freshman season for Purcell, who ranked second on the Blue Hens with a 74.63 average round and finished second at the Cornell Invitational.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Kevin Tritt at: ktritt@udel.edu (email) / 302-831-8715 (office) / 302-383-5005 (cell)
Players Mentioned
