Rebula Exempt Into 2019 U.S. Open After Winning The Amateur
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2018-06-25
(Photo/The R&A)
By DAVID SHEFTER, USGA
LIBERTY CORNER, New Jersey — Jovan Rebula, the nephew of two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els, captured the championship match of the 123rd Amateur Championship at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland, defeating Robin Dawson, 3 and 2. With the victory, Rebula earned a spot in the 119th U.S. Open Championship next June, as well as this year’s 118th U.S. Amateur Championship, both at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.
The 20-year-old became just the second South African – after Bobby Cole in 1966 – to win the world’s oldest amateur championship with his triumph over Dawson, of the Republic of Ireland, in the 36-hole championship match. Rebula, a rising senior at Auburn University who entered the week No. 192 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking™, is exempt into next year’s U.S. Open provided he remains an amateur.
“It’s unreal,” said Rebula. “It’s really something that is hard to describe. I am thankful to be standing here right now.”