Recent Saint Martin's College grad qualifies for 2003 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship

Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Lacey, Wash. - Chris Morrow, a four-year member of the Saint Martin’s College NCAA Division II golf team and a May graduate of the college, has qualified for a berth in the prestigious 2003 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

The tourney, which gives exposure to many public course players, will be July 14-19 at the Blue Heron Pines Golf Club near Atlantic City, N.J. The second largest amateur tournament in the country, the U.S. Publinks Amateur pits 156 top amateur golfers from public golf courses.

Morrow snared one of two available spots, beating out 50 other golfers in a qualifying tournament June 16-17 at Port Orchard’s Trophy Lake Golf and Casting Club. He shot rounds of 68 and 74, coming in two under par for the two-day event. The other qualifier is John Cassidy, Yelm, who is enrolling at the University of Nevada, Reno.

The winner of the championship gets an automatic berth in next year’s Master’s Tour and custody of the James D. Standish Jr. Cup. Those who do well also begin accumulating points to qualify for other amateur tournaments.

Calling him “by far the Saints’ best and most consistent player in recent years,” Saint Martin’s Coach Kurt Kageler said that Morrow improved dramatically from his freshman to his sophomore year, then took off like a rocket.

“He was our best player, often placing in the top five or the top 10 at tournaments and earning Academic All-American honors his junior year,” Kageler said. “Chris has been a terrific young man to have in our golf program - he’s the kind of person you can really get behind and root for and want to be successful. He - along with his co-player and roommate Aaron Hare -- have also helped the Saints golf team gain greater national recognition.”

Saint Martin’s Assistant Golf Coach Todd Abbott, who has helped coach Morrow for four years and will caddy for him at the Atlantic City tournament, said, “He works so hard at his game and he’s a good student of the game. He has taken every opportunity that has been given to him and succeeded.”

Morrow, who graduated from Edmonds’ Kings High School, came to Saint Martin’s on a golf scholarship. While he received his bachelor’s degree in computer science, he has postponed his professional career in that direction to pursue a golf career, Abbott said. Morrow currently works at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course’s Pro Shop.

The Saint Martin’s College men’s golf team was established 14 years ago, and the women’s team seven years ago. The men’s team is nationally ranked and last year, was ranked as high as fourth.

For more information:
June 25, 2003 Kurt Kageler
Golf coach; alumni director
(360) 438-4583 or kkageler@stmartin.edu

Todd Abbott
Assistant golf coach; admissions director
(360) 438-4590 or tabbot@stmartin.edu

Deanna Partlow
Senior editor, media specialist
(360) 438-4541 or dpartlow@stmartin.edu