U.S. Open champion was quarterfinalist in U.S. Junior Amateur in 2003
As a 17-year-old playing in the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur at Columbia Country Club, one of the most impressive players – on and off the course – was Webb Simpson of Raleigh, N.C. Simpson fell in the quarterfinals of that tournament, but nine years later he captured a bigger USGA event, winning the U.S. Open on Sunday.
And what has become of the player Simpson lost to, 1 up, in the quarterfinals? Patton Kizzire, a 6-foot-5 Auburn grad, has yet to play in a PGA Tour event. He has missed the cut in two Nationwide Tour events and has earned $18,457 this year, ranking 19th on the NGA (formerly Hooters) Tour.
In addition to Simpson, there are several players from that 2003 U.S. Junior Am who have established careers on the PGA and Nationwide Tours.
Brian Harman, the champion that year at Columbia, made the PGA Tour for the first time this year. Sung Hoon Kang, a PGA player the last two years, was the medalist at Columbia, firing a 69-68 – 137. Kevin Chappell, a PGA player the last two years, shot 144 in qualifying. Bobby Gates, also a PGA Tour player the last two years, shot 147.
Among those missing the cut at Columbia in 2003 were Kyle Stanley, a winner earlier this year on the PGA Tour, and 2011 PGA Tour players Joseph Bramlett and Martin Piller, who are now on the Nationwide.
