Jeremy Grab qualifies for United States Amateur Championship
Life is a journey on a highway that is scattered with exit ramps, forks in the road – and detours. And, sports, of course, are a reflection of life.
Just ask Jeremy Grab. The former Bishop England golf standout came to a fork in the road just a few months ago after suffering the agony of defeat. He’s a member of the Wofford team and lost the Southern Conference individual championship when he recorded a double-bogey on the final hole to lose medalist honors.
He questioned his avocation and began to think about life after golf.
“It was downright brutal,” Grab said of his collapse. “I was shell-shocked. If I didn’t love golf, it was time to give it up.”
But Grab chose the other fork in the road, and it has paid off handsomely. He plays in the state amateur this week, but it’s what’s on the horizon that has the local golf community buzzing.
Grab has qualified to compete in the 2016 United States Amateur Championship.
Grab earned his spot in the field by finishing second at a recent qualifier at Monroe Country Club in Monroe, N.C.
“Qualifying for the U.S. Amateur ranks right up there with my top accomplishments,” Grab said. “I’m excited for the opportunity, but the state amateur starts Wednesday and I’m taking it step-by-step. We’ll think about that when we get there.”
Grab was impressive both days of the tourney. He was 7-under, 65 on the first day and handled the chase well with a 2-under 70. That’s 9-under, 165 for a young man who considered calling it a career.
"To know I have an invitation to the biggest amateur event in the world is awesome," Grab said. "This is an incredible opportunity, but I have high expectations. I want to make match play and test my game against the best amateurs in the world."
More than 300A golfers qualified to compete at the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship. The tournament will be held Aug. 15-21 at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. The first two rounds consist of stroke play, with the top 64 advancing to match play.
Competing in a special event such as this allows Grab to look at his future after college. He is set to begin his senior year and now is pondering a professional career.
He’s a talented golfer who has an athletic background that includes more than just time on the links.
“I played just about every other sport than golf growing up,” Grab said. “I thought golf was the lamest sport. I played basketball, but I snapped an ankle. It’s when I realized that I was 6-1, not 6-8 and as fast as someone like LeBron James. There are some young golfers who are bringing athleticism to golf.”
Grab was a two-year honor roll student and lettered in golf for three years at Bishop England. He was named all-state from 2010-12. He was also named All-Lowcountry in ‘11 and ‘12.
Television coverage for the 2016 U.S. Amateur begins with the round of 64 on Aug. 17, on Fox Sports 1.