Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Owens qualifies for U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach
7/17/2018 11:28:00 AM | Men's Golf
Becomes 12th Blue Raider to qualify
DECATUR, Ala. – With 36 holes completed and a sterling mark of 5-under par (70-67=137) posted at a sectional qualifier in Decatur, Ala., Middle Tennessee rising junior Tanner Owens has earned a spot in the 2018 U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links.
Owens opened the sectional qualifier on Monday with 36 holes at Burningtree Country Club on the docket, and finished his opening round at 1-under par 70 to place himself high up the leaderboard and in contention for one of two qualifying spots in the field of 78 golfers.
Tied for sixth with 18 holes to go in the afternoon, Owens needed to move up four spots to take one of the two qualifying positions. After a bogey on one, the Milton, Tenn., native caught fire with birdies on holes three, six, seven and eight to move to 4-under for the championship.
A setback on 11 looked to make things difficult down the stretch, but Owens rose to the occasion with three more clutch birdies on 13, 16 and 18 to lock in his 5-under par score for the 36-hole qualifier.
"The biggest thing that was working for me was that I was just out there having fun," Owens said. "My caddy has been one of my good friends for a long time and we were just out there talking about anything but golf and having fun and luckily that resulted in good scores."
The suspense wasn't over yet, however, as three groups were unable to finish the second round on Monday. One of the golfers in those three groups stood tied for second alongside Owens and could push the Blue Raider out of the Top 2 or force a playoff.
"I was just trying to stay calm and control my nerves," Owens added. "I knew there was a chance I could still get in without a playoff, but I had to get myself in the mindset that I was going to have to tee it up and beat somebody in a playoff. In the end it worked out in my favor."
The qualifier continued Tuesday morning but Owens' competition fell down the leaderboard to leave him in sole possession of second place and in the field for the 2018 U.S. Amateur Championship.
Owens becomes the 12th Blue Raider to qualify for the U.S. Amateur and first since both Brett Patterson and Jason Millard qualified in 2011.
Former Blue Raider Joey Savoie also qualified in 2016, just prior to enrolling at Middle Tennessee, and again in 2017, just following his graduation.
"I'm really proud of Tanner for this great accomplishment," interim head coach Danny Briggs said. "He works so hard at his game and is extremely deserving of his spot in the U.S. Amateur. This is just another example of the high talent level and dedication within this Middle Tennessee men's golf program."
Owens will compete at the historic Pebble Beach Golf Links on Aug. 13-19, where he will be one of 312 golfers in the field looking to unseat defending champion Doc Redman, a former Clemson golfer who competed in the 2017 NCAA Regional at The Grove alongside Middle Tennessee.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Owens stated. "The U.S. Amateur is a tournament that all amateur golfers dream of being in, and then for it to be at Pebble Beach which is a course on everyone's bucket list and to be there with my family will make it the opportunity of a lifetime."
Owens opened the sectional qualifier on Monday with 36 holes at Burningtree Country Club on the docket, and finished his opening round at 1-under par 70 to place himself high up the leaderboard and in contention for one of two qualifying spots in the field of 78 golfers.
Tied for sixth with 18 holes to go in the afternoon, Owens needed to move up four spots to take one of the two qualifying positions. After a bogey on one, the Milton, Tenn., native caught fire with birdies on holes three, six, seven and eight to move to 4-under for the championship.
A setback on 11 looked to make things difficult down the stretch, but Owens rose to the occasion with three more clutch birdies on 13, 16 and 18 to lock in his 5-under par score for the 36-hole qualifier.
"The biggest thing that was working for me was that I was just out there having fun," Owens said. "My caddy has been one of my good friends for a long time and we were just out there talking about anything but golf and having fun and luckily that resulted in good scores."
The suspense wasn't over yet, however, as three groups were unable to finish the second round on Monday. One of the golfers in those three groups stood tied for second alongside Owens and could push the Blue Raider out of the Top 2 or force a playoff.
"I was just trying to stay calm and control my nerves," Owens added. "I knew there was a chance I could still get in without a playoff, but I had to get myself in the mindset that I was going to have to tee it up and beat somebody in a playoff. In the end it worked out in my favor."
The qualifier continued Tuesday morning but Owens' competition fell down the leaderboard to leave him in sole possession of second place and in the field for the 2018 U.S. Amateur Championship.
Owens becomes the 12th Blue Raider to qualify for the U.S. Amateur and first since both Brett Patterson and Jason Millard qualified in 2011.
Former Blue Raider Joey Savoie also qualified in 2016, just prior to enrolling at Middle Tennessee, and again in 2017, just following his graduation.
"I'm really proud of Tanner for this great accomplishment," interim head coach Danny Briggs said. "He works so hard at his game and is extremely deserving of his spot in the U.S. Amateur. This is just another example of the high talent level and dedication within this Middle Tennessee men's golf program."
Owens will compete at the historic Pebble Beach Golf Links on Aug. 13-19, where he will be one of 312 golfers in the field looking to unseat defending champion Doc Redman, a former Clemson golfer who competed in the 2017 NCAA Regional at The Grove alongside Middle Tennessee.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Owens stated. "The U.S. Amateur is a tournament that all amateur golfers dream of being in, and then for it to be at Pebble Beach which is a course on everyone's bucket list and to be there with my family will make it the opportunity of a lifetime."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
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