Hanna Set To Play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s golfer Chase Hanna will travel to Newton, Kansas,  to play in the 89th U.S. Amateur Public Links (APL) Championship at Sand Creek Station Golf Course on July 14-19.
 
Hanna, a KU sophomore-to-be, qualified for the APL championship as a first-alternate in the 25-golfer field by shooting a two-round 142 at Swope Memorial Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 17. 
 
“I’ve been a first alternate two times for the U.S. Junior and never got the call, but this was my first time to try for the U.S. Public Links” Hanna said. “We had quite a few players and they only had one spot, but as a first alternate I had a good shot to get in.”
 
The 2014 APL Championship will consist of 156 golfers with two rounds of stroke-play qualifying, July 14-15. From there, the field will be cut to 64 golfers with the lowest scores for match play. 
 
“I have played Sand Creek Station many times,” Hanna said of the course which measures 7,365 yards with par 71 for the APL Championship . “The Kansas Stroke Play is always there. I played it earlier this summer and had a pretty solid event, shot four under and got third overall. The course is very long and demanding off the tee and has a great layout.”
 
This will mark the 89th and final U.S. APL Championship. The first tournament was played at Ottawa Park Course in Toledo, Ohio, in 1922. The APL Championship has been giving exposure to many public-course players whom may not have had a chance compete in a major tournament.  Since 1989, the winner of the U.S. APL Championship has been invited to the play in the Masters Tournament.
 
“It’s too bad they’re ending the event in my opinion,” Hanna said. “My goal is just to have a good tournament and get into match play.  I think I have the game to make it the whole way.”
 
In 2013-14, Hanna led the Jayhawks in scoring in seven of the 11 events and had a team-best 73.24 average. He recorded five top 20 finishes his freshman campaign.
 
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.