Chad Merzbacher shot a 2-under 142 for medalist honors in U.S. Amateur sectional qualifying at Dacotah Ridge Golf Course in Morton, Minn. He had a pair of 71s on Monday and Tuesday.
Also advancing to the national tournament — Aug. 15-21 in Bloomfield Township, Mich. — were Matt Bennett and Graysen Huff, who tied for second at 147.
"This is a really hard event to qualify for and I don't know how many times I've tried to qualify for it, but it feels really good," said Merzbacher, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., now working in Eden Prairie. "I think I'll turn pro after this tournament, so this is my last [U.S. Amateur]. I really wanted to make it; I've put in a lot of work and I think I deserve it."
Merzbacher played college golf for Tennessee and missed the cut in the 2012 U.S. Amateur. Bennett is from Marshall, Minn.; Huff is from Eagle, Idaho.
Saints win after big first inning
Alonzo Harris hit a three-run homer in the first inning to lead the St. Paul Saints to a 5-0 victory over the visiting Sioux Falls Canaries. Willie Argo later had an RBI single in the first inning and Nate Hanson a bases-loaded walk in the second.
John Straka gave up only five hits in seven innings for the victory.
