Anthony DeGol of Hollidaysburg posted scores of 68 and 70 on Thursday at Turtle Creek Golf Course, near Reading, to qualify for the USGA Amateur Public Links Championship next month.
DeGol's 6-under par score for two rounds placed him first among 30 golfers competing for one qualifying spot.
"I started with a birdie on the first hole," DeGol said. "After that, I just tried not to force anything. I wanted to put the ball on the right side of the hole and give myself chances for birdie."
This is the second time that DeGol has qualified for this event. Last year, he finished tied for 10th during the stroke play portion of the event at Bandon Dunes in Bandon, Ore.
He was eventually eliminated during match play.
This year's tournament begins on July 9 and will be played at Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway, Utah. DeGol feels that last year's experience will help him.
"Gaining that experience was great," he said. "I've really learned a lot about playing match play during the past year, and I'm really looking forward to the event."
The tournament format begins with 155 contestants playing two rounds of stroke play. The low 64 will advance to match play, where single-elimination matches determine the eventual winner.
DeGol will have a busy summer golf schedule. In addition to the Public Links Championship, he's earned an exemption to play in the Canadian Amateur in early August. He'll also be playing in the West Penn Open and Pennsylvania Amateur (where he has finished in the top five over the past two years).
DeGol, who enters his senior season at Penn State, is pleased with how he is playing right now.
"I really worked on my putting in the offseason," he said. "It's given me the chance to take one of my weaknesses and turn it into a strength."
