Aug. 13, 2008

IRVINE, Calif. --- Current UC Irvine golfers John Chin and Tim Cha, along with former Anteater standout Brian Edick, are in the 312-player field for the 108th U.S. Amateur Championship that begins Monday (Aug. 18) at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort & Country Club.

Chin, the 2008 Big West Conference medalist and Player of the Year, was runner-up in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship last month at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colo.

Cha, a 2008 All-Big West first team member, earned a berth in the U.S. Amateur by winning a sectional qualifier with rounds of 68-65 at Big Canyon Country Club July 28.

Chin will be a junior at UCI in the fall while Cha has one year of eligibility remaining and is expected to redshirt this coming season.

Edick, the 2007 Big West Player of the Year, qualified for the U.S. Amateur by placing first in the sectional qualifier with a 36-hole score of 139 at Fort Washington Golf & Country Club in Fresno July 28.

The first two days of stroke play at the U.S. Amateur will be played Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 18 and 19) on Pinehurst Courses Nos. 2 and 4. The lowest 64 scorers following stroke play will begin match play Wednesday at Pinehurst No. 2. The 36-hole final is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 24. The Golf Channel will have coverage during the five days of match play.

Chin begins stroke play Monday at 9:45 a.m. (PDT) on the first tee at Pinehurst No. 2 while Cha tees off at the same time on the 10th tee, also at No. 2.

Edick goes off the 10th tee on Pinehurst No. 2 at 4:40 a.m. (PDT) Monday and ironically, he is in a threesome that includes Jack Newman, who defeated Chin for the title of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Pinehurst has hosted eight previous USGA Championships, including the 1999 U.S. Open (won by Payne Stewart) and the 2005 U.S. Open (won by Michael Campbell). The 2014 U.S. Open will be played at Pinehurst No. 2.