LELAND, N.C. – University of South Carolina Aiken senior golfer Matt Atkins qualified earlier this week for the 2012 United States Amateur Championship.

Atkins posted a two-round score of 149 (74-75) in sectional qualifying at the par-72, 7,093-yard Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation to advance to the 2012 US Amateur Championship.

Michael McGowan finished one stroke ahead of Atkins to acquire medalist honors at the sectional qualifying site. 

Atkins (Owensboro, Ky./Henderson State) and McGowan were the only two to claim qualifying spots at the Leland, N.C. sectional qualifier. 

The 2012 US Amateur will be held at the par-71, 7,432-yard Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 

Eighteen holes of stroke play are scheduled for Aug. 13 and Aug. 14. The field will then be cut to the low 64 scorers. Six rounds of match play will commence on Aug. 15. 

The championship concludes with a 36-hole final match on Aug. 19.

The winner of the US Amateur Championship receives an exemption from local and sectional qualifying for the next US Open and an exemption for qualifying for the next 10 US Amateur Championships. The winner will also receive an exemption for the next British Open Championship and a likely invitation to the next Masters Tournament. They will also receive an exemption from qualifying for the next 15 US Amateur Public Links Championships.

The Golf Channel and NBC will provide coverage of the US Amateur Championship. The television coverage will begin on the Golf Channel on Aug. 15 (3-5 p.m.), Aug. 16 (3-5 p.m.) and Aug. 17 (12-2 p.m.). NBC will showcase the semifinals on Aug. 19 (4-6 p.m.) and the final on Aug. 19 (4-6 p.m.).

For more information on the 2012 US Amateur Championship, please visit the official website: http://www.usga.org/ChampEventSite.aspx?id=17179869326

You can also learn more about the US Amateur Championship from this quick and easy fact sheet: http://www.usga.org/ChampEventContent.aspx?id=21474845376 

Leland, N.C. Sectional Qualifying Results: http://www.carolinasgolf.org/tourn/2012/result/usamateurmagnoliagreensday2result.htm