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The Daily Tar Heel

UNC golfers Ben Griffin and Carter Jenkins qualify for US Amateur

The likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have all been winners of the prestigious U.S. Amateur. From August 17 to 23, a pair of Tar Heels will get the chance to join them on the prestigious list of winners. 

Rising North Carolina sophomore Ben Griffin was the first to qualify for the event, shooting a seven-under par score over two days at a sectional qualifier, finishing second behind Clemson’s Miller Capps. 

After missing the top three last year by four strokes, Griffin had supplementary reasoning for playing well in the qualifier. 

“I was pretty motivated to make amends for not qualifying last year,” Griffin said.

Rising junior Carter Jenkins was the next to punch a ticket to the Amateur after winning his qualifier with a two-day score of 10-under par. 

Jenkins' win comes just more than a week after he claimed his third straight title at the Carolinas Golf Amateur tournament. 

“Really, I’ve just been doing everything well,” Jenkins said. “I’m in a nice flow.”

Jenkins eyes are set on winning it all, and he’s confident that he will be at the top of his game come Aug. 17.

“I feel that I am capable,” Jenkins said. “I believe I can play with the best in the world.”

Jenkins and Griffin will play 36 holes of stroke play, and if they finish in the top 64 of the 200-plus competitors, they will be seeded into a match play bracket for a chance to win the tournament. 

UNC men’s golf coach Andrew Sapp joked about their appearance.

“I hope they’re on opposite ends of the bracket, so if anything, they wouldn’t have to knock each other out until the finals,” he said. 

Both Jenkins and Griffin will be making their first trip to the U.S. Amateur, which will be hosted by Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill. 

The winner of the event is given an exemption to three of the four major events, including the Masters, the U.S. Open and the British Open. 

“It’s the greatest amateur event in the world,” Sapp said, "There are so many opportunities that exist if you play well.”

Sapp said that the recent play of Griffin and Jenkins will hopefully help catapult the Tar Heels into a good start for the fall season.

Griffin echoed Sapp’s sentiment. 

“This will definitely help us get ready for the college season with such a strong field,” he said.

Sapp said he believes both Griffin and Jenkins have the ability to finish in the top 20 in the first two rounds before playing well in the match play portion of the event.

“This is a great opportunity to show and play with the best in the world,” Sapp said.

sports@dailytarheel.com

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