Kansas State golfers Josh Persons and Aaron Watkins each earned berths in the 103rd United State Amateur Championships, as both players used sterling finishes to reach to advance to the nation's most prestigious amateur golf event.

Persons, who will be a sophomore this fall at K-State, captured the qualifying stroke-play tournament in his home town of Fargo, N.D., firing a two round total of 74-70?144, including birdies on his last two holes of play for the win.

Across the country in Phoenix, Ariz., Watkins' win was even more dramatic. The Wildcat senior-to-be carded a stellar two-round total of 69-66?135 before winning the event with a birdie in a two-hole playoff.

The 2003 U.S. Amateur, which will be played Aug. 18-24 at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa., will be the first for Persons, while Watkins earned his second consecutive berth in the tournament. Last year Watkins advanced out of stroke play and won his first head-to-head competition in match play before bowing out in the round of 16.

K-StateSports Men's Golf

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