William Sung (left) and Nathan Han (right)
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin
Han, Sung Qualify for U.S. Amateur Golf Championship
7/31/2023 1:35:00 PM | Men's Golf
First Lions to qualify together in program history
NEW YORK — Columbia men's golf rising senior Nathan Han and rising junior William Sung have qualified for this year's United States Amateur Golf Championship. The 123rd edition of the championship will take place August 14-20 in Colorado.
Han and Sung qualifying together marks the first known occasion in Columbia men's golf history that two Lions have qualified for the U.S. Amateur in the same year. They are also the first Lions to qualify for the event since Arjuna Anday '17CC did so in 2017 at Riviera Country Club. Columbia University Director of Golf Rich Mueller has now had six Lions qualify for the U.S. Amateur since beginning his tenure in Morningside Heights in 2005 — those golfers include Chris Condello '07CC (2006, '07), J Christian FitzGerald '18CC (2014), Harrison Shih '16CC (2015, '16) and Arjuna Anday '17CC (2017).
Stroke play for this year's U.S. Amateur will take place August 14-15 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, as well as Colorado Golf Club in the city of Parker. Each golfer in the 312-man field will play one round at each course. The top 64 will advance to the match-play portion, all of which will be held at Cherry Hills. The tournament comes to a close with the 36-hole championship match, scheduled for Sunday, August 20.
The USGA accepted a record 8,253 entries for this year's U.S. Amateur, besting the previous mark of 7,920 set in 1999. Sam Bennett won last year's event at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey.
Han and Sung each won their sectional qualifiers in dominating fashion to secure their spots in the field. Han was unstoppable at Haworth Country Club in mid-July, posting rounds of 5-under-par 67 and 7-under 65 to win by five shots at 12-under-par 132. Sung began with a 2-under-par 70 in California at Santa Ana Country Club before firing a 6-under 66 on the final day. It included a hole-out from 90 yards on the last hole to win by three shots at 8-under-par 136.
Han capped a historic 2022-23 collegiate season by becoming the first individual in program history to qualify for NCAA Regionals. He broke program single-season records for scoring average (70.24), scoring average versus par (-0.86), birdies (112) and par or better rounds (21). He also earned eight top-10 and five top-five finishes. At the end of the season, he became the first player in program history to earn NCAA Div. I PING All-America status.
Sung competed in seven tournaments for the Lions this past season. His sophomore campaign was highlighted by a 12th-place finish at the Cornell/Temple Fall Invite. He fired a collegiate-low 4-under-par 67 a week later to help the Lions win the Columbia Autumn Invitational.
More information on this year's U.S. Amateur Golf Championship can be found by visiting Championships.USGA.org/USAmateur.html.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia men's golf, follow @CULionsMGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Han and Sung qualifying together marks the first known occasion in Columbia men's golf history that two Lions have qualified for the U.S. Amateur in the same year. They are also the first Lions to qualify for the event since Arjuna Anday '17CC did so in 2017 at Riviera Country Club. Columbia University Director of Golf Rich Mueller has now had six Lions qualify for the U.S. Amateur since beginning his tenure in Morningside Heights in 2005 — those golfers include Chris Condello '07CC (2006, '07), J Christian FitzGerald '18CC (2014), Harrison Shih '16CC (2015, '16) and Arjuna Anday '17CC (2017).
Stroke play for this year's U.S. Amateur will take place August 14-15 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, as well as Colorado Golf Club in the city of Parker. Each golfer in the 312-man field will play one round at each course. The top 64 will advance to the match-play portion, all of which will be held at Cherry Hills. The tournament comes to a close with the 36-hole championship match, scheduled for Sunday, August 20.
The USGA accepted a record 8,253 entries for this year's U.S. Amateur, besting the previous mark of 7,920 set in 1999. Sam Bennett won last year's event at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey.
Han and Sung each won their sectional qualifiers in dominating fashion to secure their spots in the field. Han was unstoppable at Haworth Country Club in mid-July, posting rounds of 5-under-par 67 and 7-under 65 to win by five shots at 12-under-par 132. Sung began with a 2-under-par 70 in California at Santa Ana Country Club before firing a 6-under 66 on the final day. It included a hole-out from 90 yards on the last hole to win by three shots at 8-under-par 136.
Han capped a historic 2022-23 collegiate season by becoming the first individual in program history to qualify for NCAA Regionals. He broke program single-season records for scoring average (70.24), scoring average versus par (-0.86), birdies (112) and par or better rounds (21). He also earned eight top-10 and five top-five finishes. At the end of the season, he became the first player in program history to earn NCAA Div. I PING All-America status.
Sung competed in seven tournaments for the Lions this past season. His sophomore campaign was highlighted by a 12th-place finish at the Cornell/Temple Fall Invite. He fired a collegiate-low 4-under-par 67 a week later to help the Lions win the Columbia Autumn Invitational.
More information on this year's U.S. Amateur Golf Championship can be found by visiting Championships.USGA.org/USAmateur.html.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia men's golf, follow @CULionsMGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Feature: MGOLF | Metropolis Intercollegiate
Thursday, September 11
Feature: MGOLF | Han Advances to U.S. Open Final Qualifying (PIX11)
Monday, June 05
Rich Mueller Interview following Doc Gimmler
Sunday, September 12
Interview With DJ Francey following Doc Gimmler
Sunday, September 12
