Cullowhee, N.C. – Adam Hooker, a fifth-year graduate transfer and a newcomer on the Western Carolina men's golf team for the 2022-23 season, qualified for the 122nd annual U.S. Amateur Championship this week after placing in a two-way tie for second place in his qualifying event held at the par-72 Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh.
Hooker was among 7,749 nationwide entries competing for 312 spots in the amateur championship tournament field over 94 total sites.
Consisting of 36-holes of stroke play, Hooker posted a first-round score of 2-under par 70, followed by a 4-under par 68 to climb two spots from fourth after 18 holes into the qualifying transfer spot with a score of 138. The Lebanon, Va., native and High Point University transfer posted 16 pars with a pair of birdies in the first round on Wednesday, June 29 for the 2-under round. On Thursday, Hooker posted four birdies on the front nine to make the turn at 4-under par. Bogeys on two of his first three holes on the back left him at 2-under before he closed the tournament with four pars and two birdies to shoot 68.
Ryan Burnett, who finished his collegiate career at UNC-Chapel Hill, won the qualifying tournament with a score of 8-under par 136. Hooker finished tied with Jerry Richardson Jr., of Cary, N.C., with matching scores of 138.
Hooker is the sixth Catamount men's golfer to earn a berth into the U.S. Amateur field – and the first since Jackson Bishop qualified back in 2016. Hooker joins Bishop, current PGA TOUR standout JT Poston (2013), and former WCU men's golfers Ricky Stout (2010), Matt Cook (2008), and Clay Kilgore (2002) to play in the U.S. Amateur field.
The 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship will be held August 15-21 between the par-71, 7,4870-yard Ridgewood Country Club and the par-72, 7,279-yard Arcola Country Club, both in Paramus, N.J. The tournament format includes two rounds of stroke play with the top 64 competitors advancing into the match-play bracket play. Peacock and the Golf Channel will have live coverage of the U.S. Amateur Championship beginning with match-play on Wednesday, Aug. 17.
Keep track of everything related to Catamount men's golf and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (wcu_catamounts, catamountmgolf), and Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountMGolf).
WCU Men's Golf U.S. Amateur Qualifiers:
2022 – Adam Hooker
2016 – Jackson Bishop
2013 – JT Poston
2010 – Ricky Stout
2008 – Matt Cook
2002 – Clay Kilgore
