Cha, 14, Qualifies for U.S. Amateur

Wrapping up the most important tournament of his life, Tim Cha, 14, calmly sank a two-foot putt on the 18th to save par.

The putt gave Cha a 36-hole total of seven-under-par 141, good enough for a three-way tie for first place Tuesday at U.S. Amateur sectional qualifying at Los Serranos South in Chino Hills.

“It’s exciting to be out here and play well like that,” said Cha, the youngest of 82 competitors in the field.

Cha, who will be a freshman at Chino Hills High in the fall, qualified with Cameron Broumand of Los Angeles and Atsushi Takase of Northridge. The U.S. Amateur Championship is Aug. 20-26 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.

Cha posted the second-lowest round of the morning with a four-under 70. Playa Del Rey’s Scott McDonald shot 69 in the morning.

But while McDonald stumbled to an 80 in Round 2, Cha maintained his steady play with birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. Cha finished his round with an effortless par on the 207-yard par-three 18th.