Former Saint Martin’s golfer qualifies for US Amateur

Former Saint Martin’s University golfer Austin Spicer is headed to a big stage in August — the United States Amateur championship.

Spicer scattered three birdies throughout the final round of his sectional qualifier Monday at the Creekside Golf Club in Salem, Oregon, winning the event by three strokes.

He shot a 2-under-par 142 during the one-day, 36-hole tournament to secure the only automatic berth to next month’s championship.

“It is always great to see my past players continuing to have success after graduation,” SMU coach Kevin Bishop said in a release. “Austin is a very talented player and it should be a fantastic tournament experience for him playing in the United States Amateur.”

Spicer, a Gresham, Oregon native, was tied for ninth after shooting a 1-over 73 in the first round. He quickly regrouped with a birdie on the opening hole of his second round, and scored par or better on every hole.

His 3-under 69 in the second round tied another golfer for the best single-round score of the tournament, but Spicer was the only player to finish the tournament under par.

The U.S. Amateur begins Aug. 14 at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, and Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles.

Spicer was a three-time all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference selection at SMU. He finished third at the GNAC championship in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in April in his final collegiate tournament.

This story was originally published July 19, 2017 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Former Saint Martin’s golfer qualifies for US Amateur."