Stamey earns spot in USGA Public Links, Bass & Leeper alternates

GREENSBORO, NC – UNC Greensboro’s Nathan Stamey fired a 36-hole total of 139 at the Furman Golf Club in Greenville, SC to win the Sectional Qualifier and earn a spot in the 2006 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship to be held next month at Gold Mountain GC in Bremerton, WA.

Two of Stamey’s teammates earned spots as alternates. J.D. Bass, also playing at Furman GC, lost in a playoff for an automatic spot and settled for an alternate’s position after firing a two-round score of 140. In addition, Bradley Leeper earned an alternate’s spot while playing at Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, NC. Leeper carded a 144 over 36 holes, which was good enough for fourth place at the Sectional and got him on the list of alternates.

Stamey is among 156 players who have qualified for the championship. In order for a player to be eligible, they must be of amateur status and not have regular access to a private golf course. Competitors must also have a USGA Handicap of 8.4 or less. The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship was first played in 1922 and is one of 10 national amateur championships conducted annually by the USGA.

The winner is also invited to play in the 2007 Masters at Augusta National. Clay Ogden, a junior at Brigham Young University, won the tournament last year. On his way to the title, he began as the No. 63 seed, but defeated Michelle Wie in the quarterfinal round. Ogden is expected to defend his title at Gold Mountain GC this season.

Past U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship winners also include PGA veterans Billy Mayfair and Jodie Mudd.

The 2006 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship will be played July 10-15 at Gold Mountain GC, which is located a couple of miles from the southern most end of Pugent Sound. Gold Mountain, which is owned by the city of Bremerton, consists of two courses – the Olympic and the Cascade. The Olympic Course, which measures 7073 yards in length and first opened in 1996, will be used for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. It has been selected four times as the best public golf course in the state of Washington according to Golfweek magazine.

In 2010, the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship will be played at Bryan Park GC just outside of Greensboro.

- UNCG -