Colonials MVP Andres Pumariega will take the course at the U.S. Amateur Championship – the oldest golf championship in the country – as one of the 312 golfers to play.
Pumariega, a senior who transferred to GW last year, found significant success on the course for the Colonials. He won an unprecedented three straight events last March and April, and was twice named Atlantic 10 Performer of the Week in March. Pumariega earned individual medalist honors at the GW Invitational at Bethany Beach, Del., followed by a win at the Penn Quaker Invitational at the Philadelphia Cricket Club.
He capped his season by being named the 2011 men’s golf team most valuable player, leading the team with a 75.1 stroke average and posting three top-5 finishes, four top-10 finishes and five top-20 finishes in nine tournaments.
“Andres is an excellent player and a real boon to the team,” head coach Terry Shaffer said. “I’m really excited for him. The U.S. Amateur Championship is the top of the heap.”
Pumariega qualified for the championship by shooting a two-day score of 141, finishing in to a three-way tie for first place on the TPC Blue Monster Course at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in his hometown of Miami.
“I played up and down in the first round but in the second round my putting was great,” Pumariega said. “It’s really flattering to qualify.”
U.S. Amateur Championship play begins with 18 holes of stroke play on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23, which will cut the field to the low 64 scorers. Six rounds of match play begin on Aug. 24, with the championship concluding on Aug. 28, with a 36-hole final match.
This year’s competition will begin at Erin Hills in Erin, Wisc.