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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Sandra Chaussard
schausrd@aol.com

ILLINI GRAD QUALIFIES FOR U.S. OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Garrett Chaussard punches ticket to Torrey Pines

Millbrae, Calif. -- June 4, 2008. Former University of Illinois golfer Garrett Chaussard qualified on June 2, for this year’s U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Chaussard’s 141 (68-73) at Lake Merced Golf Club, his home course near San Francisco, captured one of seven spots in the field of 86 players. His finish was one stroke behind the site’s low score of 140, posted by PGA Tour Pros, Jason Gore (67-73) and Michael Allen (67-73) and Canadian Tour Pro John Ellis (69-71). The U.S. Open tournament runs June 12-15 at the Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California.

"This is by far the highlight of my playing career and a week I never want to forget, your first major championship only comes around once"

Chaussard, graduated from U of I in 2005 with a degree in finance. He played in 49 consecutive events at U of I trailing only PGA Tour Pro Steve Stricker for the most events played while in school. Chaussard made four appearances at NCAA regionals and two at NCAA finals. He captured the title at the 2004 Northern Intercollegiate, one of many top 10 finishes during his Illini career.

Chaussard, remembers watching his father, Ronn hit golf balls into a large net in the garage. At age 3, his father handed him a club during one of those sessions in the garage. Instead of watching, he was hitting, and it was good. And it kept getting better…

Chaussard, 24, is no stranger to major golf tournaments. He played in the 2004 US Amateur at Winged Foot (NY) and was a quarterfinalist at the 2000 US Junior Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge (OR). In his third year as a touring professional he most recently played on the Gateway Tour and was a member of the Canadian Professional Tour in 2006.

Check out Garrett’s blog: garrettchaussard.blogspot.com
For more information about the U.S. Open: http://www.usopen.com/en_US/index.html