Quincy High Senior makes amends
for past near-misses with flawless display
Four golfers advance to the national championship, to be held July 23-28 at Boone Valley
St. Louis - Quincy High School senior Luke Guthrie fired a 10-under par 132 to easily outdistance the field at the United States Junior Amateur Qualifying Tuesday at St. Louis Country Club.
Guthrie, who missed qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur by a shot in each of the past three years, made no mistake about it this time in winning by 13 strokes against a field of 78 boys from ages 13-17.
“Those near misses made for some long drives home,” Guthrie said, currently ranked No. 22 nationally by GolfWeek Magazine. “You think about a shot or two that could have made a difference.”
Coming off a T8 finish at the Western Junior in Iowa, Guthrie (pictured left with MAGA President Stan Grossman) took control of the qualifier early in the day. In his morning 18, he opened with a 6-under par 65 on the 6,488 yard, par 71 layout. His morning 18 included seven consecutive birdies at St. Louis Country Club’s Nos. 5 through 11 and nine birdies overall. The reigning Illinois high school champion closed with an eagle at the par-5 ninth hole to post an afternoon round of 4-under 67.
A total of four golfers advanced to next month’s U.S. Junior Amateur, to be held July 23-28 at Boone Valley Golf Club in Augusta, Mo.
Will Nixon, Jefferson City, Mo. (73-72-145), T.J. Vogel, Cooper City, Fla. (74-74-148) and Michael Cermak, Chicago (74-74-148) will join Guthrie in the national championship field. 
(They are pictured below with Mr. Grossman.)
Nick Sheppard of Springfield, Mo. (79-70-149) earned first alternate. Two other golfers – Brad Moody of Jefferson City, Mo., and Josh Jones of The Colony, Texas, also finished at 149.
Volunteers are still needed for the U.S. Junior Amateur, July 23-28 a Boone Valley Golf Club in Augusta, Mo., especially in the jobs of transportation and parking. For more information, contact Michelle Bagwell, Championship Director, or Cindy Todorovich, Director of Volunteers, for a volunteer form. There is no cost to volunteers and each will receive a shirt, cap and food on the days that they work.
Contact information: Michelle at 314-214-2782 or mbagwell@centricgroup.com or Cindy at 314-541-1499 or cindy@printscharminggallery.com with any questions.