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Ito, Ng Medal at Final MGA-Conducted U.S. Amateur Qualifier

Pinehurst No. 2, 2019 U.S. Amateur

The MGA in 2019 will conduct four sectional qualifying rounds for the 119th U.S. Amateur Championship, which takes place at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C., August 12-18. Three qualifiers take place on Monday, June 8, with the final one taking place Monday, July 15.


ARMONK, N.Y. (July 8, 2019) - Zachary Ong of Scarsdale, N.Y., fired rounds of 68-65 to card 9-under-par and earn medalist honors at Whippoorwill Club, besting the field by three shots while leading three players to Pinehurst.

Related: Results

The 14-year-old Ong birdied his opening four holes in the afternoon round. He added five more birdies the rest of the way while also tallying a trio of bogeys en route to taking the top spot on the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, morning leader and Yale rising sophomore Darren Lin of Chino Hills, Calif., followed up his 67 with a 2-under 69 for a 6-under total. Josh Goldenberg of Scarsdale, N.Y., shot 73 in the morning, but rallied in the afternoon as he made seven birdies en route to a 5-under 66 and a 3-under total for the day. The afternoon round propelled Goldenberg up the leaderboard to secure the third and final slot, earning him his first trip to the U.S. Amateur after a pair of first alternate finishes in recent years.

Brad Tilley of Easton, Conn., earned the first alternate slot with a birdie on the second playoff hole, while Adam Xiao of Manhasset, N.Y., took the second alternate position.

Whippoorwill played to a par of 71 at 6,614 yards.


BRIELLE, N.J. (July 8, 2019) - Dawson Jones of Howell, N.J., earned medalist honors at Manasquan River Golf Club after carding a pair of 70s to finish with a 3-under 140.

Related: Results

Jones, who won the 64th Ike Championship at Canoe Brook last month, will be making his first appearance in a USGA Championship.

One playoff hole decided the final qualifying spot after three players finished the day with a 2-under 141. Ethan Wall of Brielle, N.J., claimed the final qualifying spot with a 10-foot birdie on the first playoff hole. Wall is a five-time club champion at Manasquan River.

Jolo Timothy Magcalayo of Sta. Rosa earned the first alternation position, while Brendan Hansen of Spring Lake, N.J., took the second alternate qualifying spot.

Manasquan River played to a par 71 in the morning and a par 72 in the afternoon.


ORADELL, N.J. (July 8, 2019) - Recent Yale graduate James Nicholas of Scarsdale, N.Y., posted scores of 68-69 to earn medalist honors at Hackensack Golf Club and advance to the U.S. Amateur for the second time.

Related: Results

Nicholas' day was supported by nine birdies and an eagle over the two rounds as he edged Sam Goldenring of Florham Park, N.J., by one shot. Goldenring, a rising senior at Williams College, also tallied nine birdies over the 36 holes and will make his second straight appearance in the U.S. Amateur.

Two alternate positions were also decided, with Ryan Skae of Old Tappan, N.J., taking first and Robert Weise of Freehold, N.J., taking the second.

Hackensack played to a par of 72 at 6,932 yards.


PORT JEFFERSON, N.Y. (July 15, 2019) - Ardsley, N.Y., native Brent Ito and Ethan Ng of New York, N.Y., shared medalist honors at Port Jefferson Country Club, carding 7-under 137s to secure their spots in the 119th U.S. Amateur Championship at Pinehurst Resort, August 12-18. Andrew Chambers of Boca Raton, Fla., claimed the third qualifying position with a 5-under 139 over the 36 holes.

Related: Results

Ito set the pace early in the morning with his 6-under 66, as the 20-year-old carded seven birdies and an eagle. Though he carded just two birdies in the afternoon, Ito played steadily by carding 15 pars. Meanwhile, Ng, who tied fourth in last month's Ike championship, opened the day with a 2-under 70 before closing the day out with a 5-under 67. Chambers tallied rounds of 69-70 to earn his slot.

Gerry Mackedon of Port Jefferson, N.Y., and Chase Wheatley of Hoboken, N.J., rounded out those earning positions, taking the first and second alternate positions, respectively.

Port Jefferson played to a par of 72 at 6,647 yards.

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