THE FLATS – Georgia Tech golfer Christo Lamprecht has received an exemption to compete in the 122nd United States Amateur, which begins Monday in Paramus, N.J. Based on qualification criteria, players who are listed among the top 50 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking on Aug. 8 are exempt, and Lamprecht is ranked No. 46.
Lamprecht, a junior from George, South Africa, will join Yellow Jacket seniors Ross Steelman, the world’s No. 27-ranked amateur, and Bartley Forrester, ranked No. 76, next week at Ridgewood Country Club. Steelman earned his spot by reaching the quarterfinals of last year’s U.S. Amateur in Oakmont, Pa., and Forrester won his final qualifier in late June in Johns Creek, Ga.
An All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and an honorable mention All-American last spring for Georgia Tech, Lamprecht finished the collegiate year as the Yellow Jackets’ highest ranked player, No. 27 in both the Golfstat ranking and the Golfweek/Sagarin Index, after posting six top-10 finishes in 12 events during the year.
Lamprecht was selected to compete for the International Team in the Arnold Palmer Cup in June, and helped lead the Internationals to victory in Switzerland by winning three of his four matches. He followed that by tying for ninth place at the European Championships in Valencia, Spain.
Forrester and Steelman also have enjoyed successful summers in amateur competition. Forrester won the Monroe Invitational in Pittsford, N.Y., tied for sixth place at the Southern Amateur in St. Simons Island, Ga., and finished third at the Dogwood Invitational in Atlanta. Steelman won medalist honors and reached the quarterfinals of match play at the Western Amateur in Highland Park, Ill., after finishing as the runner-up in stroke play and winning his round of 32 match at the North & South Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C.
Three other Georgia Tech players have won major amateur events since December, most recently at the end of July when Andy Mao captured the title at the Southeastern Amateur in Columbus, Ga. Aidan Kramer won the Rice Planters Amateur in late June, and Connor Howe captured the Patriot All-America Invitational in December.
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Georgia Tech’s golf team has completed 27 years under head coach Bruce Heppler, winning 70 tournaments in his tenure. The Yellow Jackets have won 18 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 31 appearances in the NCAA Championship and been the national runner-up four times. Connect with Georgia Tech Golf on social media by liking theirFacebook page, or following on Twitter (@GTGolf) and Instagram. For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.