Ball State University Athletics
VanDeventer Qualifies for U.S. Amateur
July 14, 2015 | Men's Golf
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State men's golfer Michael VanDeventer will compete in next month's U.S. Amateur Championship outside Chicago at Olympia Fields Country Club.
VanDeventer earned his place Monday, grabbing one of three advancing spots from the qualifier at Prairie View Golf Club in Carmel, Ind. The rising sophomore from Columbus, Ind., posted a 36-hole total of 1-over par 145 (71-74) to finish third in a field of more than 60 golfers.
Ball State's Johnny Watts tied for 17th in the qualifier, while fellow teammates Michael Makris and Keegan McKinney also competed.
VanDeventer is the fourth Ball State golfer in the past six years to qualify for the US Amateur, joining Eric Steger (2010), Tyler Merkel (2011) and McCormick Clouser (2014). Makris qualified for the 2013 event while he was still in high school.
This year's championship will be contested Aug. 17-23 at Olympia Fields. The course has hosted four professional major championships, most recently the U.S. Open in 2003.
VanDeventer managed Ball State's second-best stroke average last season at 75.46. He posted three top-20 finishes and one top-10 during his freshman campaign.
