Temple University Athletics
McGrath, Whitney Set to Compete at the US Amateur
8.14.22 | Men's Golf
PHILADELPHIA – Temple Golf will be well represented at the 122nd US Amateur which begins play on Monday, Aug. 15. as the Owls will have two golfers, Conor McGrath and Ethan Whitney, in the 312-player field. It marks the first time Temple has had two current golfers in the field since Brandon Matthews and current assistant coach Matt Teesdale competed in the 2014 US Amateur.
Stroke play will be held Monday and Tuesday at the 7,487-yard, par-71 The Ridgewood Country Club and the 7,256-yard, par 70 Arcola Country Club. The Ridgewood Country Club will be the championship site beginning with match play on Wednesday. Both clubs are located in Paramus, N.J.
"I think it is a great accomplishment for our two student-athletes and I am really excited for them," said Temple head coach Brian Quinn. "It is just the second time that we have had two golfers in the field in 15 years here. Having two of our top five golfers in the US Amateur shows the strength and direction of the program."
McGrath, who led the Owls with a 71.88 stroke average last season to earn his third Ping All-Region selection, shot a three-under 137 at the US Amateur Qualifier held at Rolling Green Golf Club on July 13. He finished second to earn one of the three spots at stake for the US Amateur.
It is not new to McGrath as he also qualified for the US Amateur in 2021, becoming the first Owl to do so in consecutive seasons since Matthews accomplished the feat in 2013 and 2014.
"I am excited," said McGrath, who also earned a spot on the Division I All-America Scholar team. "Making the field last year I did not know exactly what I was getting into because it was my first time. You step on property for the practice rounds, and it is just a different environment. It is far more serious.
"The intensity was different, and I was not quite ready for that. Having one under my belt and being back here the next year, I know what the environment is going to be like and how to prepare myself a little better."
McGrath, a fifth-year senior from Huntingdon Valley, Pa., was just as excited to see his teammate make the field.
"It was good to see that Ethan got in," he said. "Now we have two Temple guys for the first time since Coach Teesdale and Brandon Matthews made the field.
"Coach Quinn and Coach Teesdale really have helped me a lot and are always great sounding boards with advice as they both have tons of experience."
Whitney, a sophomore from Westminster, Mass., found out this week that he had made the field. He earned the first alternate spot after shooting a two-over 144 at the Winchester (Mass.) Country Club in his qualifying tournament. He then received the news every alternate hopes to hear – you have a spot.
"I heard from my buddy (Alex Landry), who was the second alternate, that we were next on the list to be called up just before I received the call from the USGA," said Whitney, who placed fourth for the Owls (74.09 stroke average) as a freshman. "It is awesome. I am so excited to be part of this prestigious tournament."
"I talked to Conor a few times (this week), and we were trying to arrange time for us to be able to have a practice round together, but due to our schedules and being on different courses on the first day it just did not work out."
Whitney and McGrath both have been in contact with the coaching staff. Coach Quinn, who will be starting his 16th season at the Temple helm, will be in Paramus to help both of his golfers, but due to each being assigned separate courses in the opening round, they will not play together.
"Coach (Quinn) just was excited for both Conor and I being given the opportunity to represent Temple, our families and ourselves on such a big stage," said Whitney.
Below are McGrath and Whitney's tee times for stroke play
Monday:
Conor McGrath tees off at 8:23am at Ridgewood Country Club
Ethan Whitney tees off at 7:52am at Arcola Country Club
Tuesday:
Conor McGrath tees off at 1:18pm at Arcola Country Club
Ethan Whitney tees off at 1:27pm at Ridgewood Country Club
With Whitney making the field, Temple has had seven golfers compete in the US Amateur since 2011. Joining McGrath and Whitney are Dawson Anders, John Barone, Andrew Mason, Brandon Matthews and Matt Teesdale.
Here is a breakdown of their results
2011: Senior Andrew Mason was unable to advance to the match play rounds, finishing one shot out of the playoff alongside other notable golfers Max Homa and Emiliano Grillo.
2013: Sophomore Brandon Matthews advanced to the quarterfinals but was defeated 5 & 3 by Australia's Oliver Goss. Matthews became the only Owl to make it to the quarterfinals in program history. On his run, Matthews defeated Matt Pinizzotto 1-up before defeating Gavin Green 4 & 3 and Charlie Danielson 3 & 2 in the following two rounds. Matthews fell in the quarterfinals alongside 2022 Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler. 2022 U.S. Open Champion Matthew Fitzpatrick went on to win the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship.
2014: Brandon Matthews and Matt Teesdale played in the 2014 U.S. Amateur. Matthews failed to qualify for match play while Teesdale lost to Georgia Tech's Ollie Schniederjans, 6 & 5, in the round of 64.
2019: Dawson Anders did not advance to the match play rounds.
2021: Temple alum John Barone and Conor McGrath both did not advance to the match play rounds.
Stroke play will be held Monday and Tuesday at the 7,487-yard, par-71 The Ridgewood Country Club and the 7,256-yard, par 70 Arcola Country Club. The Ridgewood Country Club will be the championship site beginning with match play on Wednesday. Both clubs are located in Paramus, N.J.
"I think it is a great accomplishment for our two student-athletes and I am really excited for them," said Temple head coach Brian Quinn. "It is just the second time that we have had two golfers in the field in 15 years here. Having two of our top five golfers in the US Amateur shows the strength and direction of the program."
McGrath, who led the Owls with a 71.88 stroke average last season to earn his third Ping All-Region selection, shot a three-under 137 at the US Amateur Qualifier held at Rolling Green Golf Club on July 13. He finished second to earn one of the three spots at stake for the US Amateur.
It is not new to McGrath as he also qualified for the US Amateur in 2021, becoming the first Owl to do so in consecutive seasons since Matthews accomplished the feat in 2013 and 2014.
"I am excited," said McGrath, who also earned a spot on the Division I All-America Scholar team. "Making the field last year I did not know exactly what I was getting into because it was my first time. You step on property for the practice rounds, and it is just a different environment. It is far more serious.
"The intensity was different, and I was not quite ready for that. Having one under my belt and being back here the next year, I know what the environment is going to be like and how to prepare myself a little better."
McGrath, a fifth-year senior from Huntingdon Valley, Pa., was just as excited to see his teammate make the field.
"It was good to see that Ethan got in," he said. "Now we have two Temple guys for the first time since Coach Teesdale and Brandon Matthews made the field.
"Coach Quinn and Coach Teesdale really have helped me a lot and are always great sounding boards with advice as they both have tons of experience."
Whitney, a sophomore from Westminster, Mass., found out this week that he had made the field. He earned the first alternate spot after shooting a two-over 144 at the Winchester (Mass.) Country Club in his qualifying tournament. He then received the news every alternate hopes to hear – you have a spot.
"I heard from my buddy (Alex Landry), who was the second alternate, that we were next on the list to be called up just before I received the call from the USGA," said Whitney, who placed fourth for the Owls (74.09 stroke average) as a freshman. "It is awesome. I am so excited to be part of this prestigious tournament."
"I talked to Conor a few times (this week), and we were trying to arrange time for us to be able to have a practice round together, but due to our schedules and being on different courses on the first day it just did not work out."
Whitney and McGrath both have been in contact with the coaching staff. Coach Quinn, who will be starting his 16th season at the Temple helm, will be in Paramus to help both of his golfers, but due to each being assigned separate courses in the opening round, they will not play together.
"Coach (Quinn) just was excited for both Conor and I being given the opportunity to represent Temple, our families and ourselves on such a big stage," said Whitney.
Below are McGrath and Whitney's tee times for stroke play
Monday:
Conor McGrath tees off at 8:23am at Ridgewood Country Club
Ethan Whitney tees off at 7:52am at Arcola Country Club
Tuesday:
Conor McGrath tees off at 1:18pm at Arcola Country Club
Ethan Whitney tees off at 1:27pm at Ridgewood Country Club
With Whitney making the field, Temple has had seven golfers compete in the US Amateur since 2011. Joining McGrath and Whitney are Dawson Anders, John Barone, Andrew Mason, Brandon Matthews and Matt Teesdale.
Here is a breakdown of their results
2011: Senior Andrew Mason was unable to advance to the match play rounds, finishing one shot out of the playoff alongside other notable golfers Max Homa and Emiliano Grillo.
2013: Sophomore Brandon Matthews advanced to the quarterfinals but was defeated 5 & 3 by Australia's Oliver Goss. Matthews became the only Owl to make it to the quarterfinals in program history. On his run, Matthews defeated Matt Pinizzotto 1-up before defeating Gavin Green 4 & 3 and Charlie Danielson 3 & 2 in the following two rounds. Matthews fell in the quarterfinals alongside 2022 Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler. 2022 U.S. Open Champion Matthew Fitzpatrick went on to win the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship.
2014: Brandon Matthews and Matt Teesdale played in the 2014 U.S. Amateur. Matthews failed to qualify for match play while Teesdale lost to Georgia Tech's Ollie Schniederjans, 6 & 5, in the round of 64.
2019: Dawson Anders did not advance to the match play rounds.
2021: Temple alum John Barone and Conor McGrath both did not advance to the match play rounds.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 30
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, May 05
