July 13, 2006

By Matt Crouch
www.siusalukis.com

BREMERTON, Wash. - Former Southern Illinois University golfer Chad Cooper saw his run at the United States Amateur Public Links title come short Thursday as he lost to Joseph Prince, 5 and 4, in the second round of match play.

The 81st U.S. Amateur Public Links is conducted by the USGA and is being played at the Gold Mountain Golf Complex in Bremerton, Wash. The par-72 course plays at 7,061 yards.

Cooper was one of 4,739 contestants entered in the tournament, 155 of which advanced through qualifiers to the stroke play rounds.

After two rounds of stroke play, Cooper, a native of Lafayette, Ind., was tied for 35th with a 3-over-par 147. He shot a 4-over 76 in the first round, but rebounded with a 1-under-par 71 in the second round.

By coming in a tie for 35th, Cooper was among the top 64 players that advanced to the match play portion of the tournament.

Cooper defeated Zachary Sebert of Columbus, Ohio, in the first round of match play, 5 and 3. Sebert just finished his sophomore season at Otterbein College in Ohio. He recently finished 10th overall in the NCAA Division III national championship, leading Otterbein to an eighth-place finish.

In Cooper's second-round match, Prince was able to take an early lead by winning two of the first three holes en route to the win.

Prince, a native of Chula Vista, Calif., just finished his senior season at Point Loma Nazarene University where he recently won the NAIA individual national championship.

Cooper finished his SIU career by finishing third at the Missouri Valley Conference Championship, earning All-MVC honors. He also led the squad in the 2005-06 season with a 74.1 stroke average.