Aug. 7, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University men's golfer Jake Koppenberg will compete in the 2008 U.S. Amateur on Aug. 18-24 at the Pinehurst Resort Golf Course in Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

Koppenberg, a senior from Everett, advanced by placing second in a local qualifier held at the Chamber's Bay Golf Club near Tacoma. He shot a 36-hole total of 2-under par 142, just one stroke out of first.

"I'm very excited about going back there," said Koppenberg. "My goal is to play some good golf and not make it bigger than it is. I'd like to get to match play and see where it goes from there."

Koppenberg nearly got to the U.S. Amateur last year when he tied for fourth place at the qualifier, only to lose in the first playoff hole when his opponent drained a 60-foot putt.

Koppenberg leaves for Pinehurst on Thursday, Aug. 14, registers on Aug. 15 and plays practice rounds on Aug. 16 and 17.

The 312-man field has 36-hole stroke play competition on Aug. 18 and 19. The field will be cut to 64 for match play which begins on Aug. 20 and continues until the 36-hole final on Aug. 24.

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest United States Golf Association championship, first being played in 1895. Since its inception, the world's greatest golfers have competed in this most honored American golf tradition. Among its many champions are the legends of the game itself - from Walter Travis to Francis Ouimet, Bobby Jones to Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods.

The champion receives a gold medal, a replica of the Havemeyer Trophy, and various exemptions for other USGA championships, as well as the British Open and an invitation to compete in the next Masters Championship.

Over the years Pinehurst has been synonymous with hosting prestigious events including the 1994 U.S. Senior Open and both the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Opens.

Last spring, Koppenberg was named to the Golf Coaches Association of America/NCAA Division II All-America second team. He had a school-record 71.3 scoring average, tying for 28th place at nationals and finishing in a tie for second at the West Regional.

A transfer from NCAA I Idaho, Koppenberg shot 11 rounds in the 60s, including a school-record 10-under 62 in the final round at the Grand Canyon Invitational to take medalist honors. He placed among the top 10 in eight tournaments.

Koppenberg was named the 2008 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year.

Western, which ranked No.9 in the final GCAA Top 25 Poll, tied for eighth at nationals, placed second at the West Regional and won the GNAC crown.