Aug. 22, 2005

GREENVILLE, N.C. - For the second consecutive year, the East Carolina men's golf team will be represented in the 105th U.S. Amateur, the country's oldest golf championship, when sophomore Chris Ault tees off at the Philadelphia Country Club Monday at 7:26 a.m. (ET). The tournament runs from Monday, Aug. 22 through Sunday, Aug. 28 with the first two days consisting of stroke play and then match play until a champion is crowned on Sunday.

Ault, a native of Levittown, Pa., claimed a berth in this year's tournament by earning medalist honors at the Havertown. Pa. qualifier which was held at both Llanerch Country Club (par 71, 6,720 yards) and Rolling Green Golf Club (par 70, 6,697 yards).

In the opening round of the qualifier, Ault shot a 7-under-par, course record-tying 63 at Rolling Green. On day two, he has an adventurous even-par 35-36. He pared No. 10 and 11, but promptly double-bogeyed the par 3, 179-yard 12th. He then bogeyed the short No. 15 (par 4, 312 yards) to go 3-over-par after six holes.

But the best was soon to come. Starting with a birdie four on the par 5, 503-yard No. 15, Ault, who plays out of Spring Mill CC, had an incredible 11 one-putt greens in a row, canning putts from all over the place, from five to 40 feet, including a 30-footer for par on No. 1 and a 40 footer for par on No. 2. He missed a two-footer for birdie on No. 9 to end the streak.

He was 3-under par during the stretch, with four birdies and a bogey. He had four birdies, two bogeys and a double for the day, finishing his round with 25 putts after needing only 26 at Rolling Green GC.

"I am extremely proud of what Chris was able to accomplish," said ECU Head Golf Coach Kevin Williams. "It took us nine years to have someone qualify for this prestigious event, and now we have been represented in back-to-back years."

Merion has hosted 16 USGA championships, more than any other club. Included in the mix are four U.S. Opens and five U.S. Amateurs. It hosted the U.S. Open in 1934, 1950, 1971 and 1981. Previous Amateurs at Merion were played in 1916, 1924, 1930, 1966 and 1989. A notable champion was Bob Jones in the 1930 Amateur, and this is the 75th anniversary of his "Grand Slam."

Merion Golf Club will play at 6,846 yards and par 34-36--70. The Philadelphia Country Club course, which will be used for the first two days of stroke play, will play at 6,967 yards and par 35-35-70.

Live scoring is available by visiting the official website of the U.S. Amateur at www.usamateur.org.