Kendall Qualifies for 2012 U.S. Amateur Publinx

HOUSTON, TX --  Schreiner rising sophomore Cheyne Kendall shot 72-69 at Memorial Park GC in Houston in a 36-hole qualifier to finish second in the field and qualify for next month's 2012 United States Amateur Public Links Championship which will be played at Soldier Hollow GC in Midway, UT.

Kendall played his opening nine holes in +1 (37) and double-bogeyed his 10th hole of the first round and looked to be in trouble for advancing.  He rallied with three birdies on the back nine to post an even par score for the morning round.  After the first round, Kendall was in a three-way tie for third place.  Only the top two finishers advance to the finals.

In the afternoon round, Kendall birdied his fifth and seventh holes and turned in 34 (-2).  He parlayed two more birdies with his lone bogey of the round into a 35 on the back nine and two round total of 141 to claim that second spot by one shot over two other competitors. 

The U.S. Publinx is one of the most prestigious amateur tournaments for non-professional players.  The winner of the event gets an invitation to the 2013 Masters at Augusta National in Augusta, GA.  Past winners include PGA Tour pros Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman, Billy Mayfair, Hunter Haas, D.J. Trahan, Chez Reavie, Brandt Snedecker, Ryan Moore and Colt Knost.  Nearly 3,000 entries are received for the tournament.  Only 144 players advance to Utah to play in the finals and Kendall will be one of those talented few to make it.

Also in the field at Memorial Park was incoming Schreiner freshman Josh Verde.  Verde shot 73 in the opening round and in sixth place - just two shots out of second - but shot 78 in the final round.

Kendall continues a strong run of success so far this summer and builds on a solid freshmen year with Schreiner Golf.  Already this summer, he qualified for the Texas Amateur Championship by shooting 73 in a one-day qualifier at Comanche Trace in Kerrville.  At the Texas Amateur Championship, Kendall shot 74-74 but missed the 36-hole cut by two shots, finishing 75th in a field of 144 of the best amateurs in the state. 

Last fall, Kendall became the first Schreiner Golfer to win his very first collegiate tournament when he bested the field at the Al Jones Memorial by shooting 70-71 at The Cascades in Tyler, TX.