Cyclone Golfers Gear Up For U.S. Amateur

The United States Amateur Golf Championship is the most prestigious event in all of amateur golf. Names like Beth Daniel, Juli Inkster and Joanne Carner have won the coveted title on the women's side and Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods began their incredible professional careers by winning the U.S. Amateur.

Iowa State University has had its share of golfers compete in the pinnacle of amateur golf, and this year is no exception. A pair of Cyclone golfers will represent their school proudly while participating in the 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur and the 2006 U.S. Amateur in August. Christi Athas, a senior from Eldora, Iowa, and Joe Cermak, a junior from Chicago, Ill., have earned the right to compete with the best amateurs in the world before starting the 2006-07 collegiate season in September.

Athas is competing in her second consecutive U.S. Women's Amateur Championship and has already had a taste of success in the tournament. The senior to be made the match play portion of the tournament a year ago and won her first match before getting ousted in the round of 32. The Cyclone gained valuable experience last year and is ready to use it to her advantage in 2006.

“Playing last year really taught me to be patient with my game,” Athas said. “I lost my match with a very accomplished player and you really have to concentrate on hitting fairways and greens to have any chance.”

The 2006 U.S. Women's Amateur will be played at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in North Plains, Ore., Aug. 7-13. For a relatively new course (built in 1992), Pumpkin Ridge has already hosted a slew of national-caliber tournaments. It was the site of the 1997 and 2003 U.S. Women's Open and the 1996 U.S. Amateur. The challenging and scenic layout, surrounded by a plethora of trees, will offer a tough test for all of the golfers competing.

“I am extremely excited about playing at Pumpkin Ridge,” Athas added. “I have watched both of the U.S. Women's Open tournaments at Pumpkin Ridge and it was a goal of mine to get a chance to play this wonderful course. I have friends in Oregon who are going to help me get acclimated with the course and greens.”

“Getting the chance to play in the U.S. Amateur will bring a positive start into my final season,” Athas said. “Making it (U.S. Amateur) is a huge accomplishment, and I hope to carry the momentum over to this season. I am really pleased to be able to play in back-to-back U.S. Amateurs.”

Cermak punched his ticket to the U.S. Amateur by winning the local qualifier at the University of Illinois Golf Club in Savoy, Ill. The junior fired a two-round 140 tally to get an opportunity to play in the biggest tournament of his young playing career.

“I can't tell you how excited I am,” Cermak said. “It's always been a goal of mine to make it to the U.S. Amateur. Knowing the tradition of the tournament makes it really special.”

This year's tournament will be played at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., Aug. 21-27. Anyone who knows the history of golf is familiar with the contributions Hazeltine has made in major tournaments. It was the site of the 1970 and 1991 U.S. Open Championships and was the host of the 2002 PGA Championship. It has hosted two U.S. Women's Open Championships (1966, 1977), the 1983 U.S. Senior Open and has locked up the site for the 2016 Ryder Cup.

“I am really looking forward to playing Hazeltine,” Cermak said. “It has hosted so many top notch tournaments and I am excited about the challenge.”

“The experience of playing in the U.S. Amateur will help my collegiate game,” Cermak added. “You can't get any tougher than playing in the U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine. I am really looking forward to getting back to Ames and starting the season. We have the whole team returning and we are anxious to show that we have improved.”