The ACU golf team seems to be everywhere these days.
First it was the Carpenter twins coming out of nowhere to win back-to-back tournaments in the fall. Then it was Cyril Bouniol emerging victorious at the Division II National Championships. Now two Wildcat golfers have played in the U.S. Amateur Championship.
“It’s a really prestigious tournament,” said sophomore Alex Carpenter. “Fifty-thousand golfers tried to qualify, and only 300 are able to get in. They really roll out the red carpet for everyone that’s there.”
Both Alex Carpenter and Tyler Sheppard earned spots at the tournament in Washington by placing high enough in the U.S. Amateur qualifiers. Alex shot a 62 in the first round of his qualifier and easily coasted to a spot, and Sheppard advanced after tying for 3rd in his qualifier.
Carpenter may have more wins for the Wildcat golf team, but it was Sheppard who played better at the Amateurs. Sheppard advanced out of the qualifying stroke play after two rounds at three-over-par and went into match play in 33rd place.
For Sheppard it was the biggest tournament he had ever played in, and he made the most of it.
“I knew it was going to be hard,” said Sheppard. “I just played to the spots very well. I went out there with a game plan, and I stuck to it. I got more positives out of this tournament than I think I ever have out of a tournament before.”
In the round of 64 Sheppard easily defeated Scott Harvey 4 and 2, and moved to the round of 32. That was as far as he went, though, as a loss to Joseph Bramlett knocked him out of the tournament.
Although neither won the tournament, it helped put Wildcat golf on the national scene and give the golfers another chance to perform in a big game environment.
The Wildcats are looking forward to another successful season this time around. With most of the players returned from last year’s team, the golfers have a reason to be pumped about the fall.
“We have all had a lot of individual success lately, and it seems like we are hot at the same time,” said Carpenter. “We have been really looking forward to this season knowing the experience we were going to have.”
The Wildcats are looking forward to another successful season this time around. That means another LSC Championship tournament and most likely another NCAA Division II National Championship tournament.
The high stakes experience Sheppard and Carpenter received last week will benefit their games, which are already showing improvement.
“My game has really turned around the last six months,” Sheppard said. “This summer has been really great for me and the rest of the team to improve and get where we need to be when ther season starts.”
With most of the players returned from last year’s team, the golfers have a reason to be pumped about the fall.
“We have all had a lot of individual success lately, and it seems like we are hot at the same time,” said Carpenter. “We have been really looking forward to this season knowing the experience we were going to have.”
Both golfers will look back on their U.S. Amatuer Championship experience with fond memories.
“It was an honor to even participate in a USGA event,” said Carpenter. “Although the course set up was extremely difficult, it was definitely a fun experience and one that I will reflect on in the future.”
