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Since 2003, not one member of the Miami University golf team has qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship, but that all changed with junior Ben Wood, when he qualified 107th U.S. Amateur, held Aug. 20-26.
Although he finished 23 over par in the two opening rounds and failed to advance to the match play rounds, Wood said he was still able to take a great deal away from the experience.
"I think we were both disappointed," said Head Coach John Wiler. "But it was a huge opportunity to play with some of the best players in the world on one of the hardest courses."
Wood qualified for the tournament in early August when he shot 72 in the opening round, 68 in the second round, for a total of 140 while playing in Fargo, N.D.
It came down to a few final putts in Fargo, but Wood knew he was going to make it to the tournament.
"I hit a good first putt and only had to give it a little tap to get it in, so I knew I had it," Wood said.
Wood had been in the same position a few years before but did not make it into the U.S. Amateur.
"It was a big relief this time," Wood said. "It was nice to know I had a good week (to play in the tournament) ahead of me."
Wood was one of only 312 players to qualify for the tournament hosted at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, the same club that has hosted past PGA U.S. Opens.
"The Olympic Club is such a prestigious course, its one of the top five in the country and one of the hardest," Wood said.
He was one of four other players to compete in the tournament from the Mid-American Conference.
"Anytime you can get four guys from one conference in that tournament you know you've got good players in that conference alone," Wood said.
Upon getting to the tournament, Wood's main expectation was making it to match play rounds, which take place after the first two opening rounds. Only 64 out of the 312 golfers advance to the third and fourth rounds.
Wood started off with a solid first round, but had a rough second round. He placed 290th in the tournament after shooting a 79 in the first round, and an 84 in the second.
"I played well but it was tough all around; the slightest mistake will cost you," Wood said. "Everyone is going to make a few bogeys under those conditions."
Though not qualifying, both Wood and Wiler are positive about Wood's future.
"It gave me a lot of confidence," Wood said. "I got to see how the rest of (the competition) play and I know I'm not too far from it."
Wiler can now take what he saw from Wood at the Amateurs and use it during the Miami golf season, which begins Sept. 10 in California.
"This tournament really exposes what you need to work on," Wiler said. "It's a framework to move forward."
As for the rest of the Miami University golf team, three other players came close to making the U.S. Amateur. Sophomore Andrew Mock and first-year Nathan Sutherland were both first alternates for the tournament, while sophomore Charlie Hendrickson was second alternate.
"As a coach you love to see improvement and I think we are moving in the right direction," Wiler said. "We have been super young, but you can see our guys are maturing and making progress."
Wood said he looks forward to the rest of the season.
"I've played the hardest, now it should only get easier," he said.
