The SCGA and Carolinas Golf Association recently held the 2023 US Amateur Qualifer on Dataw Island's Cotton Dike course.
A field of 117 golfers from around the country competed to earn one of five qualifying spots and two alternate spots. Six golfers represented Beaufort, including Country Club member Matt O'Quinn and Beaufort High School golfer Jerry Bruns (Sara Bruns' son, and the grandson of Golf Starter Jerry Bruns).
Andrew Swanson of Bluffton, SC and Jackson Buchanan of Dacula, GA shared medalist honors after finishing at ten-under-par 134. Both players shot rounds of 68 and 66 to punch their tickets. Max Dupree of Eatonton, GA and Ethan Paschal of Fayetteville, NC both finished at seven-under-par 137. Two players finished at six-under-par 138 and went to a playoff to determine the final qualifying position and first alternate. Jackson Byrd of St. Simons Island, GA won the playoff and Rowan Sullivan of Charleston, SC will be the first alternate. The second alternate is College of Charleston's Zach Reuland of Rock Hill, SC, who is familiar with the Dataw Island courses through his competition in the annual Colonial Athletic Association Championship.
The qualifiers will advance to play in the championship at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills, Colorado from August 14-20.
Thank you, Dataw Island volunteers and members for the wonderful welcome provided to these athletes! Check out the hole-by-hole scoring here.
