Recent success on the green may help T.J. Vogel add a green jacket to his wardrobe.
Vogel will likely receive an invitation to play at the 2013 Masters Tournament after winning the 2012 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship held at Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway, Utah on Saturday. Every APL champion has been invited since 1988.
Vogel, a NCAA Division I Second Team All-American, defeated Kevin Aylwin 12 & 10. The senior Gators golfer is currently ranked 33rd in the Men’s World Amateur Rankings.
“He is a great kid and player and has worked very hard to do what he has done,” UF coach Buddy Alexander said. “He will be fulfilling every young player’s dream by going to the Masters Tournament. It is a good day for him and Gator golf.”
The championship began on July 9 with two rounds of stroke play, which cut the starting field from 156 golfers to the lowest 64 scorers. Vogel finished stroke play with the second lowest score, 6-under-par for 36 holes.
Vogel earned the second seed and advanced to match play, where he defeated Paul Misko (1 up), Greg Condon (1 up), Anton Arboleda (3 & 2), 2012 US Open-qualifier Alberto Sanchez (1 up) and 2011 runner-up Derek Ernst (4 & 3).
Vogel’s performance in match play secured him a spot in the final match.
Vogel did not lose one hole to Aylwin. In 26 holes, Vogel recorded 10 birdies and no bogeys. He nearly matched the record for the USGA 36-hole final margin-of-victory of 12 & 11, but he halved the 24th hole.
In addition to likely receiving a bid to play at the Masters, Vogel also received a 10-year exemption from qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links, exemptions from qualifying for the next two U.S. Amateurs and exemptions from local qualifying for the next three U.S. Opens if he remains an amateur.
Vogel was named a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection and a PING All-Southeast Region Selection last season. Before transferring to Florida from USC, Vogel was named as a 2011 All Pac-10 honorable mention, earned 2010 NCAA West Region and All-Pac-10 first-team honors and was Pac-10 Co-Freshman of the Year in 2010.
T.J. Vogel watches one of his drives during a tournament last spring. Vogel will begin competition at The Masters today.
