July 31, 2012

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina senior Dean Hester and junior Blaine Woodruff added to an already successful summer for Gamecock golf as they both recently qualified for the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship.

Hester carded an even-par 72 on Tuesday to qualify at The Brickyard at Riverside in Macon, Ga. He finished the qualifier in a tie for second with a two-day score of 140 (-4). A native of Dublin, Ga., Hester fired a 4-under 68 on Monday in the opening round.

For a second straight year, Woodruff will play in the prestigious tournament after posting a two-round score of 141 to finish tied for third last week at the Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Miss.

Hester and Woodruff will open play at the 112th U.S. Amateur Championship on Aug. 13-19 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.