Brown Brothers, Hedden Qualify for 2008 U.S. Amateur

Erie, Colo. – Zahkai Brown of Arvada, Colo. shot 69 in the final round for a three-under par total of 141 to earn the USGA low qualifying medal in the U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier at Vista Ridge Golf Club. This will be his second appearance in a USGA championship as he played in the 2007 U.S. Junior Amateur. 

Brown, who won the 2007 Colorado High School 5A State Championship, will be attending Colorado State University in the fall where he will join his older brother Zen Brown on the golf team (Zen will be a senior). However, it will be Zen joining Zahkai in two weeks at Pinehurst, NC for the U.S. Amateur Championship as Zen earned the second qualifying spot one stroke behind his brother at 142. Zen won the 2007 CGA Match Play Championship as well as the 2005 CGA Public Links Championship. 

 
Earning the final qualifying position at 142 was Sean Hedden of Erie, Colo. who qualified on his home course.
 
Andrew Gibson of Oakland, Calif. earned the first alternate position at even-par 144, and Stuart Drahota of Steamboat Springs, Colo. earned the second alternate position in a playoff at 145 over Justin Spray of Colorado Springs.
 
The Brown brothers and Hedden will play in the 2008 U.S. Amateur Championship which will be held in North Carolina at Pinehurst (No. 2 and No. 4) on August 18-24.  Colorado players Steve Ziegler of Broomfield, Jim Doidge of Pueblo, and Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch will also be in the championship field as they qualified last week at Colorado Golf Club.

This is the second time this year that Colorado brothers have qualified for a USGA Championship. Earlier this year, Pat and Jim Grady (University of Colorado players) both qualified for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

QUALIFIERS

Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo. - 72-69--141
Zen Brown, Arvada, Colo. - 73-69--142
Sean Hedden, Erie, Colo. - 70-72—142
 

ALTERNATES IN ORDER

Andrew Gibson, Oakland, Calif. - 75-69--144
Stuart Drahota, Steamboat Springs, Colo. - 71-74--145
 

DID NOT QUALIFY

Justin Spray, Colorado Springs, Colo. - 75-70—145
Joseph Schwark, Broomfield, Colo. - 75-71--146
Gunner Wiebe, Aurora, Colo. - 75-71--146
Brett Egge, Sioux Falls, S.D. - 77-70--147
Scott Huelskamp, Denver, Colo. - 72-75--147
David Schroeder 2nd, Colorado Springs, Colo. - 73-74--147
Guy Mertz, Longmont, Colo. - 73-74--147
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo. - 75-74--149
Kaleb Mahanes, Erie, Colo. - 72-77--149
Phil Henzlik, Rapid City, S.D. - 73-76--149
Brian Nichols, Littleton, Colo. - 77-72--149
Mitch Gilchrist, Australia - 74-75--149
Bob Utberg, Pittsburgh, Pa. - 73-76—149
Brian Larson, Longmont, Colo. - 77-73—150
Brennan Dolan, Boulder, Colo. - 78-72—150
David Cosel, Monument, Colo. - 71-79—150
Drew Boettcher, Littleton, Colo. - 76-75--151
Stuart Allen, Lakewood, Colo. - 77-74--151
Henry Bissell, Littleton, Colo. - 76-75--151
Patrick Hill, Westminster, Colo. - 76-75--151
Derek Hofmeister, Greeley, Colo. - 76-76--152
Lanny Cameron, Loveland, Colo. - 78-74--152
Todd Novak, Vail, Colo. - 74-78--152
Mitch Buchner, Loveland, Colo. - 79-74--153
Cody Kent, Castle Rock, Colo. - 74-79--153
Greg Johnson, Lakewood, Colo. - 79-75--154
Chris Keirns, Thornton, Colo. - 74-80--154
Ryan Parker, Jacksonville, Fla. - 75-79--154
Ryan Boshoven, Caslte Rock, Colo. - 79-76--155
John Augst, Broomfield, Colo. - 77-79--156
David Duarte, Fountain, Colo. - 79-77--156
Brooks Andrisen, Denver, Colo. - 77-79--156
Kyle Thurman, Broomfield, Colo. - 82-74--156
Michael Spaulding, Littleton, Colo. - 77-80--157
Thomas Steiner, Lakewood, Colo. - 78-80--158
Nick Flaa, Greeley, Colo. - 81-77--158
Nick Hodge, Littleton, Colo. - 77-81--158
Adam Golesh, Littleton, Colo. - 76-83--159
Taylor Landers, Littleton, Colo. - 77-82--159
William Pack, Aurora, Colo. - 81-78--159
Hunter Hidalgo, Crested Butte, Colo. - 80-81--161
Spencer Bellows, Denver, Colo. - 80-81--161
Brian Berry, Scottsdale, Ariz. - 74-87--161
Tyler Conwell, Littleton, Colo. - 85-77--162
Ryan Cancino, Denver, Colo. - 81-81--162
Craig Pequette, Castle Rock, Colo. - 77-85--162
Fred Birner, Denver, Colo. - 79-84--163
Tim McQuaid, Englewood, Colo. - 81-85--166
Ryan Bent, Evergreen, Colo. - 84-84--168
Bob Schuler, Denver, Colo. - 84-85--169
Joshua Reddell, Denver, Colo. - 83-92--175
Adam Pladson, Aurora, Colo. - 84-NC--NC
Blake Anderson, Broomfield, Colo. - NC-NS--NS
# # # # #