July 31, 2008

MEMPHIS, TENN. - Ian Rochester of Memphis will compete in the U.S. Amateur hosted at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club Village of Pinehurst, N.C., Aug. 18-24.

A native of Cordova, Tenn., Rochester was a senior on the University of Memphis Tiger golf team this past spring. He qualified by shooting 141 (73-68) and tying for third at the U.S. Amateur Sectional hosted at Meadowbrook Country Club in Ballwin, Mo. He is one of 312 players who qualified for the championship event.

"I am excited to see that Ian has qualified for the U.S. Amateur," said head coach Grant Robbins. "He has worked very hard this summer, and this will be a great experience for him."

The 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship consists of 36 holes of stroke play on Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 18-19. The field will then be cut to 64 players for match play after Tuesday's round. Match play begins on Wed., Aug. 20 and continues until the 36-hole final on Sun., Aug. 24.

A Donald Ross design, the par-71 Pinehurst No. 2 course has hosted the 1962 U.S. Amateur Championship as well as the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Open Championships. Since 1907, Pinehurst has annually hosted the North & South Amateur Championship. A Tom Fazio design, Pinehurst No. 4 plays to par-70 and is the co-site of the North & South Amateur Championship.