Tom Whitney Wins U.S. Publinks Qualifying Tournament

Rising senior will compete at U.S. Publinks July 13-18

Tom Whitney will compete in his first USGA championship July 13-18 in Norman, Okla.
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June 24, 2009

MONUMENT, Colo. - Air Force golfer Tom Whitney (La Quinta, Calif.) won medalist honors at the U.S. Publinks Sectional Qualifying at King's Deer Golf Club this week, earning a spot at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, which will be played July 13-18 in Norman, Okla. Also advancing from the King's Deer Sectional Qualifying were Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield and Colorado State golfer Zahkai Brown.

Whitney, a rising senior for the Falcons, shot a 65 in the opening round on Monday, just one stroke off the course record. He followed with a 2-under-par 68 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 133 (-7), three strokes ahead of runner-up Lindstrom.

The U.S. Publinks will mark the first USGA championship for Whitney, who competed in a U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying earlier this summer. He caps off a spectacular season in which he led the Falcons in all 12 tournaments, including the MWC Championship, where he earned all-conference honors for the first time in his career.

Whitney, who set numerous school records, including lowest individual round (64) and lowest season stroke average (72.0), also won a pair of medalist honors in back-to-back tournaments in March. He also became the first Air Force golfer since 2005 to compete at an NCAA Regional, placing 27th at the NCAA South Central Regional in Stillwater, Okla.

The 2009 U.S. Publinks will be played at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla. Following two rounds of stroke play (July 13-14), the field will be cut to the low 64 scorers, who advance to match play. The first round of match play is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, followed by the second and third rounds on July 16. Quarterfinals and semifinals will take place July 17, while the 36-hole final round will be played Saturday, July 18. The winner of the tournament receives, among numerous qualifying exemptions, a likely invitation to compete in the next Masters Tournament.