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Utah Duo Punches Ticket to U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship
Utah golfers Hunter Nelson and Braydon Griffith were both shocked and excited to learn they had qualified as co-medalists at the U.S. Four-Ball Qualifier at Copper Rock held November 17th. According to Nelson, they weren’t watching the leaderboard and were surprised to qualify at 9-under 63. As first-time participants in a USGA qualifier, Nelson said the experience felt “surreal and super exciting.”
(L-R) Braydon Griffiths and Hunter Nelson shot (-9) 63 at Copper Rock GC to earn a spot in the 2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.
Earning the second qualifying spot in the field of 37 teams, also at 9-under 63, were Parker Edens of South Dakota and Trey Kidd of Arizona.
(L-R) Parker Edens and Trey Kidd.
A playoff decided the alternate spots among three teams that finished a shot back of the qualifiers. Former BYU players Elijah Turner and Max Brenchley earned the first alternate spot, while junior golfers Jack Summerhays and Austin Shelley claimed the second alternate position.
(L-R) Montana State University golfers Norah Seidl and Maddie Montoya.
At the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball Qualifier, also at Copper Rock, Montana State University golfers Maddie Montoya and Norah Seidl won the qualifier with a 5-under 67, one shot ahead of Westminster’s Ashley Lam and Utah Golf Association Women’s Player of the Year, Kate Walker.
The course played long and wet, according to UGA tournament director Colin Clawson, following the previous day’s rain.
This was the first time Copper Rock Golf Club hosted a USGA qualifier. Clawson said he hopes it will be the first of many. He praised the management and staff at Copper Rock, saying they did a great job, “a masterclass of hosting,” especially given the recent rainfall.
The 2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship will be played May 16-20 at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. The U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship will be held May 2-6 at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, South Carolina.
For final leaderboards from both qualifiers, visit UGA.org.
2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier recap written by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson. Photos provided by UGA staff.