Im not really sure how many people here are interested in anyway about golf.. but this is a pretty awesome story.


I'm an assistant professional at Forest Heights Country Club here in Statesboro GA. The assistant golf coach at Georgia Southern, Carter Collins, has been a staple of this community for a long time now. His father is the head superintendent here as well.

On Tuesday, he was in Knoxville TN for the US Amateur qualifier. It is a one day 36 hole stroke play event. Top 3 out of 80 players qualify. Carter had been a little down lately, confidence was 'shot'. Shooting 70-75 on a regular basis can beat up a player of his caliber and wear on his confidence. He just recently missed qualifying for the Georgia State Amateur by only a few shots. Tuesday comes and it's time to buckle down. He goes out and shoots 69 on his first 18 holes. Not too bad but a ways down the leaderboard for sure. He goes out for his second 18, and shoots a 64! Not only was the score amazing... but on the last hole, par 5, he said he was 240ish out in the right rough. He hits a 3wood to 20' and drains the eagle put for a 64 (a 1 in a 100 shot he said). Well it aint over yet. His 64 did not get him into a clear top3 position, it only got him into a playoff with 2 other guys. So the three of them head back down to 18 tee for a sudden-death playoff. All three guys hit good drives and good second shots to the par5 but none were on the green in two. Carter chips his 3rd shot to 2 feet. The other two were between 3 and 5 feet... all three putting for birdie. Both of the other guys miss and Carter taps his in for a birdie and the 3rd and final spot to the US Am!!! Just getting a top 3 spot is an incredible accomplishment, but to qualify they way he did was all the more sweet.

If any of you follow golf, please keep an eye on the USAmateur.org site and root him on!! ESPN will be covering it as well.

Just FYI- The US Amateur is a great tournament. It is for the best of the best of players who play tournament golf for the love and integrity of the game, not the paycheck. Jack Nicklaus won 2, Tiger Woods won 3 US Ams in a row before turning professional in '97.