Pullman, Wash. – Max Sekulic of Alberta, Canada shot two rounds of 66 to earn medalist honors over the 80-player field who competed today in U.S. Amateur qualifying at the par-70 Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Wash.
Max Sekulic (left) and Matthew Ruel
Claiming the second available spot in this qualifier is Matthew Ruel of Oldsmar, Fla. who shot a 3-over-par 73 in the morning round, but came back in outstanding fashion in the afternoon round with a 9-under 61.
Click here for complete final scoring of this qualifier. Sekulic and Ruel will both now advance to the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be held August 9-15 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club, with Longue Vue Club in Verona, Pa. serving as the championship’s stroke-play co-host. Sekulic, a redshirt junior at Washington State University playing this qualifier on his home course, played his 36-hole day with 11 birdies and three bogeys. Sekulic is ranked No. 724 (WAGR), and has proved his ability to compete north of the border as he was a Morse Cup team member for Alberta Golf in 2018 and 2020. Unlike Sekulic’s day, Ruel’s first and second rounds were like night and day, and in a way he will not forget. Ruel stumbled in his morning round, coming in at 3-over 73. But in his afternoon round, he caught fire in the 106-degree Palouse heat, pouring in 10 birdies against a lone bogey, vaulting up the leaderboard. His 9-under 61 tied the course record, previously set in the 2015 Pac-12 Championship by current PGA Tour player Maverick McNealy. Ruel recently finished up his redshirt senior season as a member of the Gonzaga University golf team. Akshay Anand of Redmond, Wash. is first alternate from this qualifier, while Harrison Murphy of McKinney, Tex. is second alternate. Washington Golf (WA Golf) is the local representative of the United States Golf Association (USGA) and conducted this qualifier for the 2021 U.S. Amateur Championship. To be eligible, golfers must be an amateur with a Handicap Index of 2.4 or less. Founded in 1922, WA Golf is a 501c4 non-profit, amateur golf association governed by men and women volunteers. Serving more than 75,000 individual members at more than 550 member golf clubs and 270 golf courses throughout the state of Washington and Northern Idaho, WA Golf works to continually expand the game of golf to people of all backgrounds and abilities. WA Golf also serves as a statewide representative of the USGA and works closely with a number of allied associations within the golf industry for the betterment of the game.
U.S. Amateur QualifierPalouse Ridge Golf ClubPullman, Wash.7171 Yards, Par 70
