UF golfer Tomlinson after amateur title
Published: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at 5:21 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 2:21 p.m.
J.D. Tomlinson will attempt to achieve something only four Florida golfers in history have accomplished.
And technically speaking, Tomlinson is barely even a Gator yet.
A Gainesville resident, Tomlinson is a recent Oak Hall graduate who only turned 18 in June. He attended his UF freshman orientation Tuesday and won't get his first chance to compete in UF colors until at least Sept. 16, when the season opens in Chicago.
But by winning a talent-rich qualifier last week at Golden Ocala, Tomlinson claimed a spot in this year's edition of the prestigious U.S. Amateur, which will be held next week at Erin Hills in Wauwatosa, Wis. In UF's star-studded golf history, only Bob Murphy (1965), Steven Melnyk (1969), Fred Ridley (1975) and Bubba Dickerson (2001) have won a U.S. Amateur.
Tomlinson will try to become the fifth.
“I'm really excited,” the three-time Sun golfer of the year said. “This is something I've been wanting to do for the last couple years. I finally made it and I'm hoping I can have a big impact.”
The list of former U.S. Amateur winners reads like a virtual timeline of golf's greatest icons. Bobby Jones raised the Havermeyer Cup for the first of his five total times in 1924. Later winners include Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959), Phil Mickelson (1990) and Tiger Woods (1994, 1995, 1996).
Woods was just 18 — the same age as Tomlinson — when he set the record for youngest-ever champion in 1994, but that mark has since been eclipsed twice, most recently by 17-year-old An Byeong-hun in 2009.
Still, Tomlinson will enter the tourney as a young gun in a field full of collegiate and adult amateur standouts.
It's not something he considers to be a disadvantage.
“I do view myself as a contender,” Tomlinson said. “Most of (the field is) in college and I played junior golf against a good number of them.”
If there were ever any doubt Tomlinson could compete immediately with major college golfers, last week's qualifier should serve as evidence to the contrary. Among the golfers he beat on his way to a two-stroke win and one of just two qualifying spots were current UF golfers Tyler McCumber and Tommy Mou, who combined for 63 starts for last year's regional champion team.
Tomlinson was one of two current Gators to qualify for this year's field along with rising junior T.J. Vogel, who advanced out of a qualifier in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
“It's always exciting to have guys make our national championship,” said UF head coach Buddy Alexander, himself a former U.S. Amateur champion (in 1986). “It will be a great experience for both of them. The U.S. Amateur is similar to NCAA Championships in terms of the magnitude and, in a roundabout way, I think having guys competing in that will make us better as a team.”
Former Gator Nick Gilliam, who was the individual national champion as a member of UF's national title team in 2001, also made it into the field through a qualifier at Oakland Hills (Mich.). Gilliam had a brief pro career after leaving UF, but has since regained his amateur status.
The U.S. Amateur begins Monday and includes 36 holes of stroke play to establish seeding, followed by a cut and a 64-player match play tournament that concludes with a 36-hole championship match on Aug. 27. Live scoring is available at USGA.org.
All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.