DuToit, Carpenter and Seal Punch Tickets to U.S. Amateur in Georgia

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


CHASKA, Minn. – Carding rounds of 3-over par 147, Hudson Carpenter and Minnesota Gopher Jon DuToit earned co-medalist honors and qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship Monday at Chaska Town Course.

While Carpenter and DuToit managed to qualify during grueling weather conditions in 36 holes of regulation, Cody Seal earned the final qualifying spot with a birdie on his 40th hole, edging Minnesota Gopher Tyler Lowenstein in a four-hole playoff.

The qualifier was held to determine the field at this year’s 114th U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be played August 11-15 at Atlanta Athletic Club in Johns Creek, Ga., as 65 players made up the field Monday, playing for three spots.

DuToit, Chaska, Minn., benefitted from home field advantage as he carded an even par 72 on his home course during Monday’s opening round before carding a 3-over par 75 during the afternoon session to finish in a tie for first.

He certainly had things working early as he holed out from the fairway on the second hole for eagle to quickly jump to 2-under par. With a bogey on the fourth and birdie on the ninth, DuToit finished his front nine at 2-under par 34.

DuToit made three bogeys early on the back nine before rolling in a birdie on the 16 and would finish the opening round at even par 72.

In the afternoon DuToit teed off on the 10th hole and again started quickly with a birdie on the opening hole before a pair of bogeys on the 11th and 13th holes put him at 1-over for the qualifier.

DuToit made the turn at even par after a birdie on the 15th hole before struggling on the final nine holes of the qualifier. He would roll in one birdie but made four bogeys over six holes and would finish his day at 3-over par 147.

“I started with an eagle this morning and got off to a good start,” DuToit said. “I kind of coasted from there and tried to limit the bogeys and high numbers.”

“I didn’t play as well this afternoon but I grinded and hung in there to make a bunch of pars and a few bogeys,” he said. “I drove the ball good today and made my short putts.”

The day was unseasonably cool as temperatures remained in the 60’s but felt much cooler with a steady wind most of the day. Rain fell sporadically making the 6,817 yard course play even tougher.

“I have played this course probably a thousand times and I’ve never seen it play as difficult as it did today,” DuToit said. “There’s usually a prevailing wind where the first hole is downwind all the time and today it was the complete opposite—it was a lot different.”

DuToit qualified for the U.S. Amateur Public Links a year ago is making his first appearance at the U.S. Amateur. “I’m excited and looking forward to it—it should be a lot of fun.”

Carpenter, Stillwater, Minn., began his day Monday very steady with eight consecutive pars before stumbling on the final hole of the front nine, making double-bogey to head to the back at 2-over. He would make one bogey, but rolled in three birdies to quickly turn around his opening 18 holes to shoot even par 72.

Carpenter made back-to-back bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes to fall to 2-over for the day but rebounded with a birdie on the seventh and headed to the final nine holes at 1-over par.

He rolled in another birdie on the 10th but struggled on the final eight holes as wind and rain became a factor later in the day. Carpenter would bogey the 11th hole and with back-to-back bogeys on the 13th and 14th, would eventually finish his round at 3-over par 75 and in a tie for first with DuToit at 147.

“I got off to a good start but there are some tough holes out there. Holes 11 through 14 were playing really tough, especially with two longer par-3’s,” Carpenter said. “I’m not usually the straightest driver, but I kept the ball in play and didn’t really do anything dumb today.”

“The putter got hot earlier and that’s what kept me in it. I was really good with my 4 and 5-foot putts today and in the wind and with these pin placements that isn’t always easy.”

Carpenter concurred with DuToit in that Monday’s qualifier were some of the toughest conditions he’s played in.

“It was tough. It was one of the toughest set ups I’ve played and the wind just made it that much harder. I did a really good job of flighting the ball and keeping it down—obviously when you do that, the wind doesn’t touch it as much.”

Carpenter played his collegiate golf at South Dakota State University and after qualifying for the Amateur Championship in 2012 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo., he couldn’t be more excited to return.

“Two years ago at Cherry Hills was probably the best experience I’ve ever had in the world of golf,” he said. “They treat you like a tour player and it’s run like a tour event so going back is going to be incredible. It’s basically a major for us amateurs and every amateur’s dream come true.”

Cody Seal, Victoria, Minn., grabbed the final qualifying spot after 40 holes of golf Monday, edging Tyler Lowenstein with a birdie on the 18th, which the two were playing for the fourth time.

Seal carded a 6-over par 78 during Monday’s morning session but bounced back with the lowest round of the day at 2-under par 70 during the final 18 holes to finish tied for third at 148.

After going 6-over during the final nine holes of the opening round Monday, Seal carded two birdies with one bogey on the front nine during the second round to get back to 5-over for the day.

On the final nine holes, Seal would roll in three birdies with a pair of bogeys to finish the round at 2-under 70 and 4-over par 148 for the tournament.

Seal and Lowenstein made par on the first playoff hole and again on the second. Teeing off on the 18th for a third time, both players would roll in birdies to head back to the 18th tee a fourth time.

With another birdie on the fourth playoff hole, Seal sealed his spot in the championship, while Lowenstein finished as first alternate. Aaron Cockerill, Alberta, Manitoba, Canada, finished as the second alternate.


For complete tournament results go to: www.mngolf.org/Tournament/_US_Amateur_Sectional_Qualifying_2