Four members of the 2023-24 Sun Devil men's golf team advanced to the Round of 64 at the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship held at Colorado Golf Club (CGC). A quick look at each swinger in the first two rounds and what happens next.
SOPHOMORE LUKE POTTER SHOOTS 67 IN ROUND TWO
Luke Potter had a solid freshman season in 2022-23 and he is tied for 10th at 4-under 139 (72-67). His 5-under 67 tied for sixth-best round of the day. Potter received Pac-12 second-team honors last year and posted a 71.00 stroke average in 12 tournaments and had 11 rounds in the 60s and had four top-10 finishes. His low round was a 7-under 65 at the Southwestern Invitational in the first round (Jan. 30, 2023). Potter (19 years old of Encinitas, Calif.) advanced to the quarterfinals of last year's U.S. Junior Amateur, falling to eventual champion and Sun Devil teammate Wenyi Ding. Potter, reached the Round of 32 in the 2021 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club. Potter and partner Preston Summerhays, the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, reached the quarterfinals of the 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. In 2022, Potter was runner-up to Caleb Surratt in the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, tied for ninth in the Terra Cotta Invitational, tied for 10th in the Trans-Mississippi Amateur and advanced to U.S. Open final qualifying.
FRESHMAN LUKE POTTER 2022-23 TOP-10 FINISHES
East Lake Cup (Oct. 24-26, 2022/72) 69=69/-3/T2
Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2023/72)/65-75-71=211/-5/4
Cabo Collegiate (Mar. 5-Mar. 7, 2023/71) 70-70-72=212/-1/T10
The Calusa Cup (April 2-4, 2023/72) 76-73-69=218/+2/8
FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR RYGGS JOHNSTON USES FIRST-ROUND 67 TO MAKE MATCH PLAY
Fifth-year senior Ryggs Johnston, the 2022-23 Pac-12 Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, had a 3-under 140 (67-73) which tied him for 17th. Ryggs became the second Sun Devil men's golfer to earn Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as has a perfect 4.00 grade-point average in business management, graduated in May with his management degree and earrned a certificate in sports business and is returning for his extra-year of eligibility granted by COVID-19 in 2023-24. He earned 2021 third-team GCAA All-America honors.
WHO IS WENYI DING AND WHY ISN'T HE ON THE ROSTER?
The 2023-24 roster hasn't published yet, he will be on there in Januaryr. You can read a great story about him here winning the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur to get into the U.S. Open. He is the first male golfer from the People's Republic of China to win a USGA championship with the win in July at Bandon Dunes. Ding defeated University of Tennessee's Caleb Surratt, 3 and 2, in the 36-hole final, where he built as large as an 8-up lead. Ding also won the China Amateur in 2021 and 2021 Boao Classic, a professional event in China. He made the cut at the 2023 Singapore Classic and the 2023 PIF Saudi International, and he finished 47th in the ISPS Handa Australian Open at the end of 2022. Ding will face Neil Shipley at 12:10 p.m. MDT/11:10 a.m. in Phoenix.
MADE IT! PRESTON SUMMERHAYS USES GREAT FIRST DAY TO HIS ADVANTAGE
Preston Summerhays shot even-par 143 and earned a bid to the Round of 64. The 20-year old was named Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year after recording eight top-10s during his first year at Arizona State (2021-22). He won the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur, which earned him an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He has played in five U.S. Amateurs, is the son of former PGA Tour player Boyd, the nephew of PGA Tour player Daniel and the great nephew of Bruce, who won three PGA Tour Champions events. Preston partnered with Luke Potter to reach the quarterfinals of the 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. He won the 2020 Sunnehanna Amateur, becoming the youngest champion in tournament history.
2000: Jeff Quinney defeated James Driscoll, 39 holes; Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J.; Medalists — 137, Jim Salinetti, Jeff Wilson; Entries: 7,124
1990: Phil Mickelson defeated Manny Zerman, 5 and 4; Cherry Hills C.C., Englewood, Colo.; Medalist — 135, Phil Mickelson; Entries: 4,765
1987: Bill Mayfair defeated Eric Rebmann, 4 and 3; Jupiter Hills Club (Hills Course), Jupiter, Fla.; Medalist — 141, Scott Gump; Entries: 4,084
SOPHOMORE LUKE POTTER SHOOTS 67 IN ROUND TWO
Luke Potter had a solid freshman season in 2022-23 and he is tied for 10th at 4-under 139 (72-67). His 5-under 67 tied for sixth-best round of the day. Potter received Pac-12 second-team honors last year and posted a 71.00 stroke average in 12 tournaments and had 11 rounds in the 60s and had four top-10 finishes. His low round was a 7-under 65 at the Southwestern Invitational in the first round (Jan. 30, 2023). Potter (19 years old of Encinitas, Calif.) advanced to the quarterfinals of last year's U.S. Junior Amateur, falling to eventual champion and Sun Devil teammate Wenyi Ding. Potter, reached the Round of 32 in the 2021 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club. Potter and partner Preston Summerhays, the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, reached the quarterfinals of the 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. In 2022, Potter was runner-up to Caleb Surratt in the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley, tied for ninth in the Terra Cotta Invitational, tied for 10th in the Trans-Mississippi Amateur and advanced to U.S. Open final qualifying.
FRESHMAN LUKE POTTER 2022-23 TOP-10 FINISHES
East Lake Cup (Oct. 24-26, 2022/72) 69=69/-3/T2
Southwestern Invitational (Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2023/72)/65-75-71=211/-5/4
Cabo Collegiate (Mar. 5-Mar. 7, 2023/71) 70-70-72=212/-1/T10
The Calusa Cup (April 2-4, 2023/72) 76-73-69=218/+2/8
FIFTH-YEAR SENIOR RYGGS JOHNSTON USES FIRST-ROUND 67 TO MAKE MATCH PLAY
Fifth-year senior Ryggs Johnston, the 2022-23 Pac-12 Men's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year, had a 3-under 140 (67-73) which tied him for 17th. Ryggs became the second Sun Devil men's golfer to earn Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year, as has a perfect 4.00 grade-point average in business management, graduated in May with his management degree and earrned a certificate in sports business and is returning for his extra-year of eligibility granted by COVID-19 in 2023-24. He earned 2021 third-team GCAA All-America honors.
WHO IS WENYI DING AND WHY ISN'T HE ON THE ROSTER?
The 2023-24 roster hasn't published yet, he will be on there in Januaryr. You can read a great story about him here winning the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur to get into the U.S. Open. He is the first male golfer from the People's Republic of China to win a USGA championship with the win in July at Bandon Dunes. Ding defeated University of Tennessee's Caleb Surratt, 3 and 2, in the 36-hole final, where he built as large as an 8-up lead. Ding also won the China Amateur in 2021 and 2021 Boao Classic, a professional event in China. He made the cut at the 2023 Singapore Classic and the 2023 PIF Saudi International, and he finished 47th in the ISPS Handa Australian Open at the end of 2022. Ding will face Neil Shipley at 12:10 p.m. MDT/11:10 a.m. in Phoenix.
MADE IT! PRESTON SUMMERHAYS USES GREAT FIRST DAY TO HIS ADVANTAGE
Preston Summerhays shot even-par 143 and earned a bid to the Round of 64. The 20-year old was named Pac-12 Conference Freshman of the Year after recording eight top-10s during his first year at Arizona State (2021-22). He won the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur, which earned him an exemption into the 2020 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He has played in five U.S. Amateurs, is the son of former PGA Tour player Boyd, the nephew of PGA Tour player Daniel and the great nephew of Bruce, who won three PGA Tour Champions events. Preston partnered with Luke Potter to reach the quarterfinals of the 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. He won the 2020 Sunnehanna Amateur, becoming the youngest champion in tournament history.
SUN DEVIL AMATEUR HISTORY
Three Sun Devils have won the U.S. Amateur title, with the last win by a Sun Devil coming 22 years ago when Eugene, Ore., native Jeff Quinney beat James Driscoll in 39 holes in New Jersey.
2000: Jeff Quinney defeated James Driscoll, 39 holes; Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J.; Medalists — 137, Jim Salinetti, Jeff Wilson; Entries: 7,124
1990: Phil Mickelson defeated Manny Zerman, 5 and 4; Cherry Hills C.C., Englewood, Colo.; Medalist — 135, Phil Mickelson; Entries: 4,765
1987: Bill Mayfair defeated Eric Rebmann, 4 and 3; Jupiter Hills Club (Hills Course), Jupiter, Fla.; Medalist — 141, Scott Gump; Entries: 4,084