The University of Akron Athletics
Ryan Harris Qualifies for 2014 U.S. Amateur Championship
July 08 | Men's Golf
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2014 U.S. Amateur Championship Web Site
HYDE PARK, Mass. – After several close calls, University of Akron junior-to-be Ryan Harris has qualified for the 2014 U.S. Amateur Championship, which is set for August 11-17 at the Atlanta Athletic Club (Highlands Course) in Johns Creek, Georgia.
Harris, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Amateur last year by two strokes, was one of two players to finish under par on the day in his sectional qualifier. He finished tied for top honors with Alex Jeffers with a 36-hole score of 139 (-1).
"It means a lot to me to qualify for the U.S. Amateur," Harris said. "I have been very close in the past and to finally qualify is extremely special."
Harris opened play with a round of even-par 70 during his first round before posting a 1-under 69 to finish one shot ahead of the third and final qualifier from the sectional, Zachery Munroe (140, E).
Qualifying for the U.S. Amateur continues to add to a solid year so far for Harris. In May, he posted a fourth-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Championship to earn First-Team All-MAC honors, as well as a spot on the MAC All-Tournament team. He also earned Academic All-MAC accolades in June.
Harris finished his sophomore campaign second on the Zips' squad in scoring average (73.48), posting six top-25 finishes (four top-10) in nine events. He carded 12 round at par or better, nine-most for a single season in program history.
Harris will not be the only Zip playing in this year's U.S. Amateur. Former UA student-athlete Bill Williamson (1996-99) was one of 54 players to earn a qualifying exemption. Williamson was the runner up at the 33rd U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship last October.
Williamson, a four-year letterwinner for the Zips, appeared in 47 events and played 125 total rounds, both top-five in the Akron record books. He was a second-team All-MAC selection in 1998 and a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar in 1999.
The 114th U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in the country, one day older than the U.S. Open. The field consists of 312 players, with 18 holes of stroke play set for Aug. 11-12. The top 64 golfers will then advance to six 18-hole rounds of match play, with the championship match set for 36 holes on Aug. 17.
"Preparing for the U.S. Amateur will be the same as any other event," Harris said. "With stroke play being the first part of the event, that's what I will focus on when I arrive in Georgia."
The winner of the U.S. Amateur receives: A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the ensuing year, an exemption from local and sectional qualifying for the next U.S. Open, an exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Amateurs, an exemption from qualifying for the next British Open Championship and a likely invitation to the next Masters Tournament.
