Four Cougars to tee it off at the U.S. Amateur

BYU men’s golfers Max Brenchley, Zac Jones, Cole Ponich and Tyson Shelley are set to play at the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on Monday.

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CHASKA, Minnesota – BYU men’s golfers Max Brenchley, Zac Jones, Cole Ponich and Tyson Shelley are set to play at the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club on Monday.

Brenchley qualified for the U.S. Am by finishing tied for first at The Country Club’s qualifiers late July, where he posted a round of 1-under 70 to clinch his ticket. The Alpine native had three top-25 finishes, two top-15 and two top-10 throughout his 2023-24 senior season.

“It was nice to play in the Korn Ferry event last week to get some high level reps in,” Brenchley said. “This is my first U.S. Amateur and I’m excited to get up there and compete with some of the best players in the world.”

Coming in as No. 76 in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), Jones got an exemption to Hazeltine. He had a successful junior season, where he won the Arizona NIT with a 18-under 198.

“I believe that playing in as many tournaments with the best competition possible is ultimately the only way to prepare to play well in a high level tournament like the U.S. Am,” Jones said. “If you treat every tournament like a big one then the big ones are no different.”

Ponich automatically got an invite to the 124th edition of the tournament after winning the Utah Amatuer. 

Shelley is off to Hazeltine after placing third at The Country Club’s qualifiers. 

“Throughout the summer, I have been competing in the Elite Amateur series,” Shelley said. “Being in these settings has really prepared me for a tournament as big as the U.S. Am.”

Follow this year’s U.S. Amateur on Peacock and Golf Channel. The schedule is as follows in MST:

  • Wednesday, August 14 - round of 64

Peacock: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Golf Channel: 4 p.m to 6 p.m.

  • Thursday, August 15 - round of 16

Peacock: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Golf Channel: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Friday, August 16 - quarterfinals

Peacock: 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Golf Channel: 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

  • Saturday, August 17 - semifinals

Golf Channel: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Sunday, August 18 - championship match

Golf Channel: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.