Aug. 8, 2009

GREENVILLE, N.C. - East Carolina rising sophomore David Watkins earned medalist honors in sectional qualifying on Friday to advance to the United States Amateur Championship. In the 36-hole qualifier played Thursday and Friday at Walnut Creek Country Club in Goldsboro, Watkins fired an eight-under par 136 (69-67) to finish in first place and earn his first invitation to the U.S. Amateur.

Watkins, a native of Hamlet., won the qualifier by six strokes to earn a spot in the U.S. Amateur, which will be held at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., Aug. 24-30.

Earlier this summer, Watkins finished second at the North Carolina Amateur Championships.

Watkins joins teammate and fellow classmate Jake Colley as Pirates who have qualified for the 2009 U.S. Amateur Championship.