July 30, 2008

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Nine of the 10 Marshall University men's golfers who hail from the state of West Virginia have qualified for the West Virginia State Amateur, which includes senior Nathan Kinker who also earned a spot in the U.S. Amateur by virtue of his first place finish at Tuesday's U.S. Amateur qualifier at Sleepy Hollow Golf Club.

Kinker, a Barboursville, W.Va., native, shot a 6-under 138 (69-69) to claim the lone qualifying spot available for the U.S. Amateur, to be held Aug. 18-24 at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C. Christian Brand, a junior from Charleston, and Ben Palmer, a Parkersburg native and sophomore transfer from Fairmont State, were granted automatic exemptions to the state amateur, which will be played on Aug. 4-7 at The Greenbrier, due to their top-10 finishes at the event in 2007.

Joining Brand, Kinker and Palmer at the 2008 West Virginia State Amateur will be: juniors Josh Boswell (Alderson, W.Va.) and Phil DiLorenzo (Wellsburg) along with incoming freshmen Aaron Boggs (Madison), Patton Couch (Logan), Bosten Miller (Charleston) and Carson Schambach (Glen Dale).

Three Thundering Herd golfers claimed first place at their respective qualifiers across the state, including Boswell at the Lewisburg qualifier (Elks G.C.), Miller in Charleston (Edgewood C.C.) and Boggs in Beckley (Grandview G.C.). Kinker and Couch tied for fourth at the qualifier at Sugarwood G.C. while DiLorenzo posted a second place finish in Wheeling (Oglebay-Palmer Course) and Schambach a fourth place result in Bridgeport (Bridgeport C.C.).

In addition, sophomore Bennett Boyer from Millersburg, Pa., missed qualifying for the U.S. Amateur by just one shot at Blue Ridge C.C. in Harrisburg, Pa. Boyer then won a six-hole playoff that makes him first alternate for the U.S. Amateur from that qualifier.

Former MU golfer Shawn Warren (2004-07) is excelling on the New England Professional Golf Tour. Last week, Warren claimed the Greater Bangor (Maine) Open by shooting an 8-under par score of 130 (64-66). Prior to that he finished second at the New Hampshire Open and eighth at the Massachusetts Open. Warren plans to attend PGA Tour Qualifying School in September.