Aug. 8, 2001

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - For the second consecutive year Santa Clara University golfer Sandy Horacek has advanced to the U.S. Amateur Open golf tournament. Horacek becomes the second SCU golfer in the last four years to qualify for two consecutive U.S. Amateur Opens. Adam Harrington qualified for two consecutive opens in 1998 and 1999.

Hoarcek advances to the 101st U.S. Amateur Open after finishing in a tie for second place as the recent U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier that was held August 7th at the SCGA Members Course in Temecula, Calif. Horacek was one of three qualifiers to advance from the 94-player tournament.

The senior from Los Angeles, Calif., opened the tournament with a 1-under-par 71, finishing the morning round six shots off the lead. Horacek then staged an early charge in the afternoon round, starting with three straight birdies. After bogeys on 15 and 17, Horacek bounced back with a birdie on the18th hole to force a three-way playoff for the final two spots, and finish with a 4-under-par 68. Horacek and one other player pared the first extra hole while the third competitor birdied. Horacek then moved on to the U.S. Amateur Open with a par, while the final competitor bogeyed.

"He is a great ball striker and a fabulous putter," said Santa Clara head golf coach John Kennaday. "Sandy has a great attitude for golf and could be quite a force if he makes it through to the match play portion of the tournament." Due to his success over the last three years at SCU, and his maturity both on and off the course, Kennaday has already appointed Horacek as his first captain for next year's golf squad.

The 101st U.S. Amateur Open will be played on August 20-26 at the East Lake CC in Atlanta, Ga. The first two rounds of the open will consist of stroke play that acts as a seeding system for the match play portion of the tournament. Horacek failed to advance to the match play portion at the 100th U.S. Amateur Open last year at Baltusrol CC in New Jersey, but hopes to change that outcome this year.

"Last year's Amateur Open and the last three years of competition at SCU have been very big for me," said Horacek, "I finally feel like my game is going to the next level and I would love to show that with a good performance in Atlanta."

For the Broncos last season Horacek participated in 11 events, winning the LMU/Farmer John Classic with a three-round score of 223. In addition to the win at LMU, Horacek also had four other top-25 finishes, including a sixth place finish at the West Coast Conference Championships.