Former Murray State Golfers Compete In USGA Four-Ball Championship

Two former Murray State student-athletes realize a dream come true when Will Snodgrass and Jeff Wells begin play in the United States Golf Association (USGA) US Amateur Four-Ball Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. They’ll be competing at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club this weekend as the event begins May 27 and runs through May 31.

The former Racers qualified for the USGA finals after they carded a 64 in St. Louis, Missouri at Lake Forest Golf & Country Club last September and took the title in one of 51 qualifiers nationally. The second-place score was a 67.

Will Snodgrass and Jeff Wells were Murray State teammates on Coach Buddy Hewitt’s team that won the Ohio Valley Conference championship in 1991. Wells, who lives in Bloomington, Illinois, was a senior captain of the team and
Snodgrass was a freshman from England. These days Snodgrass manages and directs Murray State’s Miller Memorial Golf Course and is assistant coach with the Racer women’s team that just won the OVC championship and competed this month at the NCAA’s in Texas. Wells is an analyst with State Farm.

Both have had built solid amateur careers and have continued to compete long after they hit their final shots for Murray State. Wells is a two-time champion of the Bloomington/Normal City Tournament and he also won the National Father/Son Championship with his dad, Rusty Wells, who coached at Illinois State. He has also qualified for the Western Amateur and posted top-10s in the Illinois and Kentucky Amateurs. Snodgrass competed in the British Boys Championship before his arrival at MSU and has made several appearances in the Kentucky Amateur.

“This is why the experience Jeff and I have had in this USGA event is so amazing,” Snodgrass said. “This was my first attempt in a USGA event and just to qualify with so little experience was unbelievable. When we went to St. Louis, we knew there were only two spots out of 48 teams that would advance. I’m still in shock six months later.”

“It has been an exciting six months leading up to the US Four-Ball,” Wells said. “To be able to team with your best mate, the lead up has been even better. I’m thankful for Will and I believe our friendship will hopefully fuel our success.”

Four-Ball is a common game in golf where partners each play a hole with their own ball and record the best score between the two them. At the USGA event, Snodgrass and Wells will play 36 holes of stroke play as a pair. If they can make the cut and be among the top-32 teams, they’ll advance to match-play.

Their opening round tee time on May 27 is at 8:24 a.m. ET from the No. 2 course at the first hole. Their second round tee time on May 28 is at 11:48 a.m. ET from the first tee at the No. 8 course.

USGA US Amateur Four-Ball Championship
Pinehurst, N.C.
(May 27-31)
Pinehurst Resort & Country Club
Course No. 2 – 7,161yds, Par-70
Course No. 8 – 7,073yds, Par-71

128 pairs from 51 qualifying sites

Saturday, May 27 – Stroke Play – 18 holes
Sunday, May 28 – Stroke Play – 18 holes
Monday, May 29 – Field Cut To 32 Pairs – Round of 32 Match Play
Tuesday, May 30 – Quarterfinals – Match Play
Wednesday, May 31 – Semifinals and Championship Match Play

Dave Winder
Murray State Athletics – Assistant AD – Media Relations

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