PAUL DUNNE WILL play at the US Amateur Championship later this month after receiving a special exemption from the USGA following his remarkable performance at the Open at St Andrews.
The 22-year-old, who intends to turn professional in September, will play in the prestigious event at Olympia Fields County Club in Illinois between 17-23 August.
Dunne became just the second amateur to hold a 54-hole lead in a major championship in the last 45 years and the first to accomplish it at the Open since Bobby Jones in 1927.
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A six-over par 78 on the final day saw him finish in a tie for 30th at St Andrews but his performance over the course of the week earned the Greystones golfer many plaudits.
“Paul Dunne demonstrated his ability to compete with anyone by his outstanding play in the recent British Open at St. Andrews,” Diana Murphy, chairman of the USGA’s Championship Committee, said.
“The USGA is pleased that he will be joining the strong international field of 312 players in the U.S. Amateur, our oldest national championship, at Olympia Fields.”
Dunne is currently 38th in the World Amateur Golf rankings and enjoyed a prolific career as a collegiate golfer during his time at the University of Alabama.
He won the Conference USA Player of the Year award in 2014 and finished fifth in the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship.
It’s another significant step on the ladder for Dunne and he’ll be hoping to join an illustrious roll of honour including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus among many other luminaries of the game.
It will be Dunne’s first USGA championship appearance.
Paul Dunne's brush with Open glory earns him place at prestigious event in America
PAUL DUNNE WILL play at the US Amateur Championship later this month after receiving a special exemption from the USGA following his remarkable performance at the Open at St Andrews.
The 22-year-old, who intends to turn professional in September, will play in the prestigious event at Olympia Fields County Club in Illinois between 17-23 August.
Dunne became just the second amateur to hold a 54-hole lead in a major championship in the last 45 years and the first to accomplish it at the Open since Bobby Jones in 1927.
A six-over par 78 on the final day saw him finish in a tie for 30th at St Andrews but his performance over the course of the week earned the Greystones golfer many plaudits.
“Paul Dunne demonstrated his ability to compete with anyone by his outstanding play in the recent British Open at St. Andrews,” Diana Murphy, chairman of the USGA’s Championship Committee, said.
“The USGA is pleased that he will be joining the strong international field of 312 players in the U.S. Amateur, our oldest national championship, at Olympia Fields.”
Dunne is currently 38th in the World Amateur Golf rankings and enjoyed a prolific career as a collegiate golfer during his time at the University of Alabama.
He won the Conference USA Player of the Year award in 2014 and finished fifth in the 2015 NCAA Men’s Division I Championship.
It’s another significant step on the ladder for Dunne and he’ll be hoping to join an illustrious roll of honour including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Jack Nicklaus among many other luminaries of the game.
It will be Dunne’s first USGA championship appearance.
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