Four American amateurs, two male and two female, will represent the United States Golf Association during two upcoming championships in the United Kingdom this June. Doris Chen and Kristen Gillman will play in the 112th Ladies British Open Amateur Championship, while Rico Hoey and John Oda will compete in the 120th British Amateur Championship. The four players range in age from 17 to 22 and have significant experience playing in USGA and other championships:
Doris Chen, 22, of Bradenton, Fla.
- Senior at the University of Southern California
- Three-time All-American
- Winner of the 2014 NCAA Division I Women’s individual title
- Won the 2010 U.S. Girls’ Junior
- Quarterfinalist, 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links
- Semifinalist, 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur
- Finalist and Medalist, 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links
- Played in three U.S. Women’s Opens and finished tied for 50th in 2013
Kristen Gillman, 17, of Dallas
- Senior at Lake Travis High School
- Won the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur
- Reached the round of 16 at the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior
- Won the 2014 Junior PGA Championship
- Member of USA Team at 2014 Junior Ryder Cup Matches
- Member of USA Team at 2014 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship in Japan
- Will attend University of Alabama
Rico Hoey, 19, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
- Sophomore at the University of Southern California
- Third-team GCAA All-America in 2014
- All-West Region in 2014
- All-Pac 12 Conference first-team choice in 2014
- Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2014
- Co-medalist at the 2014 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, advancing to the quarterfinals
- Member of the 2014 USA Palmer Cup Team
John Oda, 18, of Honolulu, Hawaii
- Freshman at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas
- Won the 2015 Sea Best Invitational at TPC Sawgrass
- Advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2014 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship
- Tied for sixth at the 2014 Sunnehanna Amateur
- Two-time Hawaii high school individual state champion
- Won the Hawaii State Amateur in 2012 and 2013
- Played in 2012 U.S. Junior Amateur
- Played in 2013 U.S. Amateur Public Links
The format of both these championships is similar to the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Amateur, with two rounds of stroke play deciding the low 64 scorers who will advance to match play.
Chen and Gillman are first up, as the 112th Ladies British Open Amateur, conducted by the Ladies Golf Union, take places June 9-13 at Portstewart Golf Club in Northern Ireland. Emily Pedersen, of Denmark, the 2014 champion, joined the professional ranks in January and will not defend the title she won at Royal St George’s.
Hoey and Oda have their sights set on the 120th British Amateur, conducted by The R&A, which will be held June 15-20 at Carnoustie Golf Links and Panmure Golf Club, in Scotland. Bradley Neil, of Scotland, won the 2014 championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club, but will not defend his title and instead play in the 115th U.S. Open Championship at Chambers Bay.
The USGA wishes all four players the best of luck as they compete in these historic and prestigious championships.