Saluki golfers qualify for U.S. Amateur

By Tyler Dixon

 

Two SIU golfers have qualified for the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship that will take place in August in Brookline, Mass.

Saluki golfer Drew Novara and incoming recruit Steve Souchek qualified to compete in the prestigious tournament, which will be held at The Country Club from Aug. 12-18. According to the U.S. Amateur website, this is the 113th U.S. Amateur Championship and is the oldest golf championship in the country. Golfers such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have won the competition.

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Novara, a sophomore from Murphysboro studying exercise science, qualified July 25 at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in Bloomington.

Novara played in seven of 12 tournaments his freshman year and had a scoring average of 77 during his first season as a Saluki.

Novara said he was proud when he realized that he had qualified. He shot a 140 over two rounds to qualify and won the qualifier by two shots. In preparing for the amateur, Novara said he needs to focus on his mental game.

“In order to be successful in the amateur, I need to continue to stay in a good mind set,” Novara said.

Novara said there is some pressure on him with being a local because anytime he is off campus, people still recognize him.

“There’s going to be pressure with everything you do, so it’s something you kind of have to deal with,” Novara said.

Novara’s roommate for the upcoming season and former John A. Logan College golfer Souchek also qualified for the amateur.

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Souchek, a junior from Columbia studying business management, qualified July 19 in a tournament at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis. Souchek shot a 142, which was par for the course.

Souchek was a standout at John A. Logan the past two seasons, being named an all-american and all-region performer twice each.

Souchek said the first thing that went through his mind when he realized he qualified was relief. He said he had been in some tournaments where he faltered on the second day and wasn’t able to close the tournament.

Souchek said he is excited to be able to compete in the tournament with Novara.

“It’s going to be a blast,” he said. “It’s really cool saying that I qualified for the U.S. Amateur, and then being able to say my roommate and teammate did, too.”

Souchek said he has high hopes for the Salukis this season.

“We have two players who qualified for our national amateur,” he said. “That kind of shows we’re going to be pretty good.”

Head coach Leroy Newton could not be reached for comment before press time Wednesday.

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