Men's Golf | July 22

BALL GROUND, Ga. – Sophomore Craig Long (Alpharetta, Ga.) of the Northern Illinois University men's golf team qualified for the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship on Monday after carding an eight-under par 64 in the U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying event at Hawks Ridge Golf Club.
 
Long tied for first place in the field of 36 with Jack Larkin Jr. at -8. He blistered the front nine, making seven birdies and an eagle to go out in seven-under par 29. Long's eagle at the par-four sixth was followed by three straight birdies to close the front nine. He got to nine-under par with birdies at 11 and 14 but bogeyed 16 and 17 to move back to seven-under. Long birdied the 18^th hole to finish his round of 64.
 
The 124^th U.S. Amateur will be held August 12-18 at Hazeltine National Golf Club and the Chaska Town Course in Chaska, Minn. The top 64 golfers after two rounds of stoke play will advance to match play beginning on Aug. 14.
 
Long is the second NIU golfer to qualify for a USGA national tournament this summer. Incoming freshman Patrick Raupp (Arlington Heights, Ill.) qualified for this week's U.S. Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. which began Monday.
 
--NIU--