Oregon junior Robbie Ziegler was one of two local golfers to earn a qualifying spot for the U.S. Amateur Championships at Erin Hills Golf Course in Erin, Wis., held Aug. 22-28.
Ziegler took the individual title at last week’s U.S. Amateur qualifier held at the Emerald Valley Golf Club, while Northwest Christian University’s Tyler Falk, a 2009 Thurston High School graduate, claimed the second of two qualifying spots.@@http://www.registerguard.com/web/sports/26645101-41/falk-fink-ziegler-amateur-round.html.csp@@
Ziegler won the event outright after he shot the best round of the tournament at 3-under 69 in the afternoon to finish with a two-round total of 2-under 142 overall.
“I just played solid all day,” said Ziegler, a Canby native. “And I guess every time I made a bogey it seemed like I made a birdie to come back with it.”
Ziegler finished the day with 17 pars, nine birdies (six in the second round), one eagle, and nine bogeys to his credit. Oregon teammate Tye Gabriel, a sophomore-to-be with the Ducks next season, also competed in the event as he finished in a three-way tie for 17th at 77-80 — 157.
Meanwhile, Falk, the Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year as a freshman this season, edged out Oregon State’s David Fink and Pacific University’s T.J. Bordeaux in a playoff after leading midway through the day.
Falk jumped out to a first-round lead after shooting a 2-under 70 in the morning, but struggled through four bogeys and one double bogey in the second round to force the three-man playoff, where he eventually birdied the final hole to secure the second qualifying spot.
Fortunately for Falk, he finished early in the day and had plenty of down time to prepare for the playoff matchup.
“I think actually what helped the most was me being able to rest because I was dead tired,” Falk said. “I did some stretches and got some food and had something to drink and got hydrated.
“I was feeling good and I went out to the range and started banging away on balls and I just didn’t want to lose.”
Fink and Bordeaux will serve as the first and second alternates for the Amateur Championships, respectively, should Ziegler or Falk be unable to compete.@@http://www.ghintpp.com/OREGONGA/TPPOnlineScoring/Results.aspx?id=78@@