Aug. 13, 2007

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Former Savannah College of Art and Design men's golfer Jon Orchin has qualified to the play in the 107^th United States Amateur Championship that will held Aug. 20-26 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Orchin, who played for the Bees from 2002-06, qualified for the prestigious event by earning one of the six slots from the U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying Tournament at the Country Club of Fairfax Aug. 6-7 in Fairfax, Va. The Washington, D.C., native earned the sixth and final spot in a three-man playoff. Orchin, Richard Sobonya and Francesco Romano each finished the tournament with a 36-hole score of 141. However, Orchin, who is the first-ever SCAD golfer to qualify for the U.S. Amateur, earned the trip by recording a birdie on the first playoff hole.

Orchin, who was recently named to the District of Columbia team for the United States Golf Association Team Championship to be conducted in Houston in late September, was twice named to the Daktronics-NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete team. Orchin, who earned his degree in graphic design, earned the college's Athletics Director's Award in 2006 for having the high cumulative grade point average (3.91) of any male athlete.

Orchin finished his career with a 76.77 scoring average. His scoring averages from the 2004-05 (76.29) and 2002-03 (76.34) seasons rank in the college's top 10. He was named to the All-NAIA Region XIV Team in 2004 and was twice named to all-tournament teams in his career. His best-ever finish came at the 2004 Hurricane Classic when he placed third. His closing round of 66 at the 2005 Hurricane Classic was the second-lowest single round in the history of the program.

The U.S. Amateur is open to amateur golfers who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4. The USGA accepted 7,398 entries for this year's U.S. Amateur. Sectional qualifying was conducted over 36 holes at 96 sites from July 23-Aug. 7.

Following two days of stroke play (Aug. 20-21), the U.S. Amateur field of 312 golfers will be reduced to the lowest 64 scorers, who will advance to match play. All matches are 18 holes except the final match. The 36-hole championship final match is scheduled for Aug. 26. The champion receives an exemption into the 2008 U.S. Open and British Open, and a probable invitation to play in the 2008 Masters Tournament, if he remains an amateur. He also receives a 10-year exemption into the U.S. Amateur field so long as he -remains an amateur.