Aug. 10, 2009

SAN DIEGO - San Diego State junior golfer Matt Hoffenberg (Simi Valley, Calif.) qualified for this year's U.S. Amateur Championship by finishing second at a sectional qualifier on Aug. 4. Hoffenberg will be one of 312 golfers at the U.S. Amateur, which will take place Aug. 24-30 at the Southern Hills and Cedar Ridge Country Clubs in Tulsa, Okla.

Hoffenberg qualified for the championship by shooting a 138 at the Crystalaire Country Club in Llano, Calif., which is located 20 miles southeast of Palmdale. Hoffenberg was one of three golfers to advance, as Russell Boring was the medalist with a 136, while Patrick Duncan finished third with a 139.

The U.S. Amateur begins with two days of stroke play (36 holes), Aug. 24 and 25. The field of 312 golfers will then be reduced to the lowest 64 scorers, who will advance to match play. All matches are 18 holes except the final match, which is 36 holes and will take place Sunday, Aug. 30.

The leading annual golf tournament in the United States for amateur golfers, the U.S. Amateur Championship is organized by the United States Golf Association. The first U. S. Amateur Championship was played at Newport Country Club in 1895, one day prior to the first U.S. Open Championship, making the U.S. Amateur the oldest golf championship in the country. Many of the leading figures in the history of golf have been U.S. Amateur Champions, including Bobby Jones (five times), Jack Nicklaus (twice), Tiger Woods (three times) and Phil Mickelson.

Hoffenberg will return for his junior season with the Aztecs later this month. The 2008 Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year had three top-five individual finishes a year ago, helping San Diego State to its 11th straight NCAA regional bid and a final No. 21 national ranking.