Aug. 18, 2005

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's golfers Billy Stewart (Devon, PA) and Ryan Barnett (Syosset, NY) are among the players competing in the 2005 U.S. Amateur Championship at the storied Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA, from August 22 through 28.

Saint Joseph's is one of the few schools to be represented by more than one player in the championship field of 312.

"This is a huge accomplishment for the Saint Joseph's program. It's quite possibly the first time in the past 16 or 17 years that we've had a current player qualify, and then to have two players do so, is just tremendous," said Hawk golf coach Bob Lynch. "Billy's been playing well all summer and I know that his goal will be to make match play. Ryan's qualifying is a nice surprise, and I know he also had a very good summer playing at local events in New York."

"I'm really excited for the upcoming season because of all of the players we have coming back. I think we'll be very competitive in every tournament we play," said Lynch.

Stewart, a senior who attended Malvern Prep, is a two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier. In 2003, Stewart became the first freshman in conference history to take home the Atlantic 10 Performer of the Year and A-10 Rookie of the Year honors. After missing 2003-04 with a hand injury, Stewart returned in '04-05 to post six top 10 finishes and lead the Hawks with a stroke average of 73.6. In 2002 before he entered Saint Joseph's, Stewart won the 2002 Philadelphia Amateur at age 18, tying the mark as the youngest Amateur winner in the Golf Association of Philadelphia history.

Barnett, a sophomore from St. Anthony's High School (NY), compiled a stroke average of 79.0 in his first season with the Hawks, with a low round of 72. He earned one of the three qualifying spots from his area in New York, shooting a 74-69 and then winning a three-man playoff with a birdie on the first hole.

The Hawks came close to having three representatives but sophomore Colin Corrigan fell two shots shy of qualifying in his hometown of Saint Louis.

Following two days of stroke play (Aug. 22 and Aug. 23) 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. 28.

The first and second rounds of stroke play are set for Monday and Tuesday (Aug. 22-23) Merion Golf Club (East Course) and Philadelphia Country Club (Spring/Mill Course). All match play rounds will be played at Merion Golf Club. A single round of match play is scheduled on Wednesday (Aug. 24), followed by the second and third rounds on Thursday (Aug. 25), and single rounds again from Friday thru Sunday (Aug. 26-28). The East Course at Merion will play at 6,846 yards, par 70.

The U.S. Amateur Championship is the most prestigious of its kind. Now in its 105th year, it is the oldest golf championship in this country. Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard and Tiger Woods are among the past champions, with Woods winning three straight titles from 1994 to 1996.

The U.S. Amateur will have 10 hours of live national coverage on The Golf Channel and NBC over the last five days of the championship.