Former WWU golf standouts Jake Koppenberg (left) and Chris Hatch (right) on Pebble Beach’s signature No. 7 during Saturday’s practice round for the 2018 U.S. Amateur. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
Pair of Former Vikings Tee Off Monday at U.S. Amateur
August 12, 2018
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A pair of former Western Washington University men’s golf standouts will open play at the 118th U.S. Amateur Championship starting Monday on Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.
Chris Hatch (Mukilteo, WA/Kamiak) will tee off the first hole at Pebble Beach at 8:54 am and Jake Koppenberg (Everett, WA/Everett – current Bellingham resident) will open his third U.S. Amateur with a 1:48 pm tee time beginning on the 10th hole at Pebble Beach. Both players will switch to Spyglass Hills Golf Course in Tuesday’s second round, with Koppenberg starting at 8:33 am on the first hole and Hatch teeing off at 2:09 pm beginning on the 10th hole.
The 118th U.S. Amateur Championship gets underway with two rounds of stroke play on Monday, August 13 and Tuesday, August 14. Each of the 312 competitors will play one round on Pebble Beach Golf Links and one round on Spyglass Hill Golf Course, vying to be one of the low 64 scorers to advance to match play.
“We could not be prouder of Chris and Jake representing WWU at such a prestigious event like the U.S. Amateur,” said WWU head coach and former Viking All-American Luke Bennett. “Whether it be on the national stage, the Washington Amateur like last weekend or the NCAA Division II events we compete in during the season, our program is always proud to represent Western Washington University.”
Hatch finished 2nd at the sectional qualifier held at Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Washington. He was a four-year standout for the Vikings from 2013-17, earning four Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Star awards, including three first-team honors. He finished his WWU career with a scoring average of 73.84 (+2.21 to par), tied for 8th-lowest in program history.
Koppenberg, who is also a volunteer coach for the current Vikings team, played for the Vikings from 2007-09 and was named a First Team All-American in 2009. He is WWU’s all-time scoring leader at 71.40 (-0.09 to par) in 67 career rounds. He qualified for his third U.S. Amateur with a 5-stroke victory at sectional qualifying held at Lake Spanaway Golf Course in Tacoma.
Fans can track Hatch and Koppenberg through live results online at USGA.org. TV coverage starting with the match play rounds will air on FS1 and FOX (check your local listings).
-- @WWUMGolf --
