MAGNOLIA, Texas — UTSA incoming freshman Cole Pregler qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur by tying for runner-up position at a qualifier on Tuesday at Lake Windcrest Golf Club (par 72/7,040 yards).
Pregler fired a 7-under 65 to earn a share of second place and one of five qualifying spots out of the qualifier for the 78th U.S. Junior Amateur, which will be contested July 20-25 at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
Pregler, a native of Fulshear, Texas, registered eight birdies against only one bogey in finishing second, one shot behind the winner.
Starting on No. 10, he bounced back from a bogey on his opening hole with birdies on three of his last four holes on the back, ending up with a 2-under 34 on that side.
Pregler circled his number on No. 1 and logged four straight pars before catching fire down the stretch to secure a qualifying spot. He birdied each of the final four holes, writing down three on the 394-yard sixth, four on the 592-yard seventh, two on the 172-yard eighth and three on the 464-yard ninth to close out a 5-under 31 on the front.
Pregler recently wrapped up his senior season at Katy Jordan High School as a four-time all-district selection, helping to guide the Warriors to the Class 6A State Tournament. There, he recorded a hole-in-one in the first round en route to tying for 24th (+6) to help his team to a ninth-place finish. He tied for sixth at the region tournament to help the Warriors finish second after earlier guiding the squad to a runner-up showing at the district tournament.
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