Aug. 10, 2004

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Siena College sophomore-to-be Bryan Bigley has qualified for the 104th US Amateur Championships at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaronek, N.Y. Bigley tees off Monday, August 16 at 12:34 p.m. in the two-day, 36-hole stroke-play qualifying portion of the event.

Bigley qualified for the championship by firing a two-day 142 at a qualifying event held in Longmeadow, Mass. on August 2. It was the lowest score of the Tournament.

In June, Bigley joined his brother Robby, a junior-to-be at Siena, and his father Rob by capturing the Schenectady Amateur Championship at the age of 19. Robby had won the title in 2003.

Both Bryan and Robby captured First Team All-MAAC honors this past spring as Siena placed second of nine schools at the 2004 MAAC Championships at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

Following two days of stroke play (Monday, Aug. 16, and Tuesday, Aug. 17), the field of 312 golfers will be reduced to the lowest 64 scorers, who will advance to match play. All matches are 18 holes except the final match. The 36-hole championship final match is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 22.

The Amateur Championship is the oldest golf championship in this country - one day older than the U.S. Open. Throughout its history, the U.S. Amateur has been the most coveted of all amateur titles. Many of the great names of professional golf, such as Gene Littler, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lanny Wadkins, Craig Stadler, Jerry Pate, Mark O'Meara, Hal Sutton, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, grace the Havemeyer Cup.

The USGA accepted 7,356 entries for the 2004 U.S. Amateur. The most entries ever received for an Amateur championship was 7,920 in 1999 when the U.S. Amateur was played at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. The U.S. Amateur Championship is open to amateur golfers who have USGA Handicap Indexes not exceeding 2.4. The Handicap limit was lowered from 3.4 in 1999.

For more information, or to track Bigley's progress, please visit www.usamateur.org.