Six Blue Devils Ready for 123rd U.S. Amateur

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE, Colo. – Duke men’s golf is well represented in the upcoming 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship, with four current and two former Blue Devils in the 312-player field. Kelly Chinn, Bryan Kim, William Love and Luke Sample are joined in Colorado by Jake Shuman and Yaroslav Merkulov for the 123rd iteration of the event.

The starting field of 312 players will play 18 holes of stroke play on Aug. 14 and 15, one round on each of the two qualifying courses, after which the field will be cut to the low 64 scorers. Six rounds of match play begin on Aug. 16 and the championship concludes with a 36-hole championship match on Aug. 20.

The two courses that are set to be played on during the stroke play are Cherry Hills Country Club and Colorado Golf Club. Cherry Hills will be set up at 7,394 yards and will play to a par of 35-36—71. Colorado Golf Club will be set up at 7,560 yards and will play to a par of 36-36—72.

Chinn, a rising junior, is heading to his fourth consecutive U.S. Amateur after earning one of the three qualifying spots at his sectional qualifier in Williamsburg, Va., in early July. Chinn prevailed in a three-player playoff for the final two qualifying spots, and was the lone player to make birdie during the playoff to ensure he secured his qualifying spot.

Kim, an incoming freshman for the Blue Devils, is coming off his championship at the U.S. Junior Amateur in early August. The Brookeville, Md., native became the second Blue Devil to claim the U.S. Junior Amateur trophy following two rounds of stroke play and six total matches, including a 2UP victory in the 36-hole championship match.

Love is playing in the second U.S. Amateur of his career. The rising sophomore earned one of the six qualifying spots at his sectional qualifier in Johns Creek, Ga., in late July. Love finished at 6-under, 138, in his 36 holes of qualifying play, including an opening 4-under, 68, in the first round that included five total birdies and a bogey-free closing nine holes with three birdies.

Sample, a rising junior, is playing his in second straight U.S. Amateur. He earned one of the two qualifying spots at his sectional qualifier in West Orange, N.J., in mid-July. Sample shot a 4-under, 138, over the course of 36 holes to finish in second place. The New York, N.Y., native carded a 1-over, 72, in the first…