Amateur Golfers Reach U.S. Championships

Diamond Bar’s Kevin Na, 17, and Steve Han, 14, each qualified for the 101st U.S. Amateur Championship after grabbing a share of first place Thursday with 36-hole totals of six-under-par 138 during U.S. Amateur sectional qualifying at Western Hills Country Club in Chino Hills.

Na, who announced last month he will forgo his senior year at Diamond Bar High to turn professional, reached all 18 greens in regulation en route to his opening-round 68, which tied for the third-lowest score of the day. Na ended his streak of 27 greens reached in regulation at the eighth hole in Round 2, but rallied to save par.

Competing in his first U.S. Amateur qualifier, Han sent his approach shot over the green on No. 18, but chipped in for a one-under-par 71 and a tie with Na. Jeffrey Payne of Garden Grove was the third qualifier at 140.

The U.S. Amateur will be played Aug. 20-26 at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.