Notebook

Merrick, Poucher pursue U.S. Amateur

Senior John Merrick and junior John Poucher both qualified to
participate in the U.S. Amateur, the most prestigious amateur golf
tournament in the world. The U.S. Amateur will be held at famed
Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. starting Aug. 18. 

Last week, Merrick earned his bid into the tournament at Aurora
Country Club in Aurora, Ill. shooting 136 over two rounds of
play. Merrick, who will be participating in his fifth
consecutive U.S. Amateur, finished seven shots ahead of
second-place finisher and USC alum Nicholas Bollini. If the
Pacific-10 Championship is any indication (Merrick set a course
record in the final round while playing with 2002 U.S. Amateur
winner Ricky Barnes), Merrick shouldn’t be frazzled under the
stifling pressure of competing in the U.S. Amateur. 

Junior John Poucher, whose game steadily improved during the
2002-2003 UCLA golf season, earned a qualifying bid with a
two-round score of 136 at Genoa Lakes Golf Club in Genoa,
Nev.  Poucher finished in a tie for first in one of the most
hotly contested qualifying tournaments in the country; many players
were within two shots of earning a plane ticket to
Pennsylvania.   

Though Merrick and Poucher are the only ones to qualify so far,
their teammates have until Monday to join them.

Mayorkas, Dwyer chase Women’s Amateur

Two members of the UCLA Women’s golf team are headed to
Gladwyne, Pa. to participate in the 2003 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Championship at Philadelphia Country Club. Junior Charlotte
Mayorkas and redshirt senior Bridget Dwyer qualified at Mission
Viejo Country Club on July 7, posting scores of 71 and 75,
respectively. 

Dwyer will be competing in her third U.S. Women’s Amateur
while this will be Mayorkas’ inaugural trip to the big
tournament. 

Mayorkas and Dwyer will be competing against some familiar
names, a list that includes Pac-10 rivals and golf prodigies
Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressel, 13 and 15 years old
respectively. 

The Championship begins Monday, Aug. 4.

Notes compiled by Seth Fast Glass, Bruin Sports
Contributor.