Ekert and Sample Qualify for 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship
WEST ORANGE, N.J. - Cole Ekert (Chatham, N.J.) and Luke Sample (New York, New York) advanced to the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship, as the New Jersey State Golf Association hosted 36-hole qualifying at Essex County Golf Club on Monday.
The medalist, Ekert, a rising junior at the University of Richmond punched his ticket to his first U.S. Amateur, which will be contested at Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado from August 14-20.
“I’m very excited,” Ekert said of earning his way to Cherry Hills. “I got to play in the U.S. Junior a few years ago and it was incredible. So much fun. I've heard the U.S. Am is on another level.”
Ekert, the solo Garden State competitor to qualify out of Essex County fired a 3-under par 68 in the morning and followed up with a 2-under par 69 in the afternoon to earn medalist honors. His morning round was highlighted by five birdies.
"My ball striking was great all day,” Ekert reflected. “I don't think I missed more than four or five greens combined, so just being able to give myself looks consistently was helpful.”
For Sample, a rising junior at Duke University, his afternoon round of 5-under par 66 proved to be the difference. In the morning, the New York native recorded a 1-over par 72. His 66 was powered by eight birdies.
“I knew I was in it, and I was looking at the leaderboard and just had to believe that I was one good round away from being in the U.S. Amateur,” Sample recalled. “I felt like I played some solid golf in the morning actually, but didn't really get a lot out of it and just missed some putts. I was puting myself in good spots but didn't really convert. I just had to trust that if I put myself in good spots again that the putts were going to drop and they did.”
Qualifying last year for the U.S. Amateur at the Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey, Sample hopes for a better performance in 2023.
“I’m really excited for Cherry Hills,” Sample expressed. "My first U.S. Am wasn't what I envisioned, but I feel like knowing what the intensity level is like in a National Championship is going to be really helpful and I’m looking forward to it.”
There was a three-hole playoff between Trevor Randoph and Graeme Hollingshead for the first and second alternate positions.
U.S. Amateur Qualifiers (Hometown)
Cole Ekert (Chatham, N.J.); (-5) 68, 69
Luke Sample (New York, N.Y.); (-4) 72-66
Alternates
Graeme Hollingshead (Basking Ridge, N.J.); 71-71 (First Alternate)
Trevor Randolph (Franklin Lakes, N.J.); 72-70 (Second Alternate)
NJSGA Social Media
For the latest updates and news, visit njgsa.org or follow New Jersey State Golf Association on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @NJSGA1900.
