Men's Golf
Men’s Golfer Garrett Wood Qualifies for U.S. Amateur

Men’s Golfer Garrett Wood Qualifies for U.S. Amateur

by Deb Moore

MAINEVILLE, Ohio – Kentucky men’s golfer Garrett Wood qualified for the U.S. Amateur by winning the TPC River’s Bend qualifier event on Monday. Wood utilized a final round of 68 to earn his spot in the national event by a two-stroke margin.
 
“I’m so excited to make it through to Oakmont,” Wood said. “I’m really looking forward to playing a USGA-run event on one of the toughest golf courses in the country.”
 
The qualifying tournament was a 36-hole event, played in Maineville, Ohio. Wood advances to the national tournament taking place Aug. 9-15 at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.
 
Wood opened the day with a round of 3-over 75. He fought off back-to-back-to-back miscues to open his round with birdies on three straight holes at the seventh, eighth and ninth to make the turn in good position. He picked up another stroke at the par-five 11th, before bogeys at the 14th and 16th marked his final score for the first round.
 
The Mason, Ohio, native rebounded in a big way during round two behind a 4-under 68. He birdied the second and third holes and then picked up another stroke to make the turn at 3-under with a birdie at the eighth. Wood birdied the 11th for the second straight round to get to 4-under. A double-bogey at the 15th was immediately combated with a birdie at the 16th. He finished the round in stylish fashion and helped put the tournament out of reach with a birdie at the 18th to push his advantage to two strokes.
 
Wood was the only player to break 70 during the second round and his 68 was the lowest scorecard for any player during either round.
 
Wood used the 2020-21 season as a redshirt season and has two years of eligibility remaining for the Wildcats. He has appeared in 24 career collegiate tournaments and owns a 73.45 stroke average. In his first season with the Wildcats in 2019-20, Wood made five appearances and had four starts. He earned a season-best finish with a tie for ninth at the Steelwood Collegiate Invitational. Wood capped his junior campaign as an Early Wave Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar.
 
His summer events have included turning in a 1-over scorecard at the Rice Planters Amateur Golf Tournament in June and a tie for 31st. Last week, he placed 25th at the Monroe Invitational behind a 1-over scorecard. He had rounds of 76-65-74-66 in that event before winning the qualifier on Monday.
 
Wood is next in action at the Southeastern Amateur July 21-23 in Columbus, Georgia. He is also slated to take part in the Ohio Amateur in Warren, Ohio, July 26-30 later this summer.
 
Wood is the second Wildcat to take home a win this season during summer events. Jacob Cook repeated as the Lexington City Golf Champion in June. Cook won the event by five strokes and was one of three current Wildcats to finish in the top 10.
 
For the latest on the Kentucky men’s golf team, follow us on TwitterFacebookInstagram and on the web at UKathletics.com
 

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