NORTON, Massachusetts – The total number of Massachusetts natives who will be competing in the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship increased to six this past week, as two former Mass Golf champions advanced from sites outside of the Bay State and a third was announced as exempt into the field.
Dillon Brown – the 2017 Massachusetts Junior Amateur champion from Halifax – and the 2016 Massachusetts Junior Amateur champion, James Imai, of Brookline, each earned a spot into the 71st playing of the Championship Proper following qualifiers held in Connecticut and Michigan, respectively.
This year’s Championship Proper is scheduled for New Jersey’s Baltusrol Golf Club from July 16-21. Baltusrol GC most recently hosted the 2016 PGA Championship.
Brown and Imai join Gloucester’s Mark Turner, Dover’s Andrew DiPetrillo and Northampton’s Peter Bowie, all of whom qualified on Wednesday, June 20 at Crumpin-Fox Club.
Wellesley resident Michael Thorbjornsen, who won the pre-division title at the 2017 Massachusetts Junior Amateur Championship, is also exempt into the field due to his position within the Top 400 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Brown, a recent Silver Lake Regional High School graduate who will play golf at the University of Maryland beginning this fall, claimed the second of two spots on Tuesday, June 19 following his 4-under 68 performance at the Golf Club at Oxford Greens.
The 18-year old Brown, who also competed in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship earlier this year, carded four birdies and an eagle on the day to finish two strokes behind Connecticut’s Justin Matthew. The 18-hole qualifier, which featured 54 in the field, was conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association (CSGA).
Following a T26 finish in the Western Junior Championship in Illinois last week, Imai earned medalist honors after firing a 29-37–66 in 18 holes at St. Clair Golf Course in St. Clair, Michigan on Monday, June 25. The Brookline High School golfer, who will be entering his senior season this fall, is the reigning New England Junior Amateur individual champion. The St. Clair qualifier, conducted by the Golf Association of Michigan, was the 43rd of 58 scheduled throughout the United States. Qualifying will wrap up on Thursday in California.
This past week, #MassGolf's Dillon Brown and James Imai advanced to the @USGA #USJuniorAm field, while Michael Thorbjornsen was also recently announced as exempt for his position amongst the top-400 in the @WAGRank!
Read: https://t.co/T4bxomhrqQ pic.twitter.com/PgymGHuZQ5
— Mass Golf (@PlayMassGolf) June 26, 2018
Mass Golf will provide coverage for all of its competitors in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Visit MassGolf.org or follow Mass Golf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @PlayMassGolf. Join the conversation by using the hashtag #MassGolf and #USJuniorAm.
