Headline: Bellingham's Peter French Punches Ticket to 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship Following Stellar Play at The Ledges GC

For Immediate Release: July 18, 2016

Peter French

York, ME —Bellingham native and recent Johnson & Wales graduate Peter French (Maplegate CC) was one of two competitors to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship on Monday, shooting a 4-under par 140 in 36 holes of action at The Ledges Golf Course.

The 22-year old French combined four birdies and an eagle in the first 18 with another four birdies in the afternoon to beat out 43 other golfers who were competing for the two qualifying spots to ensure a spot at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan for the 116th US Amateur Championship the week from August 15-21.

French advanced to the round of 16 in match play at last week’s Massachusetts Amateur Championship, held at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown. He will also be competing at the New England Amateur starting Tuesday at Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Christopher Gentle, of Lowell and Mount Pleasant Golf Club, who will also be competing alongside French at the New England Amateur, shot 70 in both the first and second rounds to earn the first alternate spot. French beat him in a playoff for the second qualifying spot after the pair had recorded matching scores on the day. Gentle advanced to the round of 16 in the Massachusetts Amateur Championship before falling to eventual champion, Brendan Hunter.

Atop the leaderboard at the Brad Booth designed par-72 course was Portland, Maine’s John Hayes, who turned in a 7-under par 137 performance. After the first 18, he and French were tied before Hayes tallied five birdies and only one bogey in the second round.

Michael Martel of New Ipswich, NH netted the second alternate spot after a playoff decided separated the four players who had a combined score of 2-under par 144 on the day.

US Amateur action will continue on Tuesday when 44 Massachusetts players are among the 80 players playing for three qualifying spots at The Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley.

Check the MGA website and follow along on Twitter (@mgalinks) for complete action of the day’s events.  

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