Two golfers from Maine will compete in the upcoming U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in Bremerton, Wash., an event run by the United States Golf Association.

Joe Walp of Portland and Seth Sweet of Madison qualified at different sites this month. Walp was the medalist Tuesday at the 36-hole qualifying tournament at Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam, Conn.

Sweet qualified on June 22 at Allendale Country Club in North Dartmouth, Mass.

Walp shot 71-68 to finish 3 under par, one stroke ahead of Anthony Vecchiarelli of Agawam, Mass. Sweet had rounds of 75-70 to finish 1 over, second by one stroke behind Chelso Barrett of Keene, N.H.

Three golfers from each site advanced to the championship.

The U.S. Junior Amateur will be played at Gold Mountain Golf Club on July 18-23.

“It will be a lot of fun playing with the best junior golfers in the country,” said Walp, who will be a senior at Deering. “The player’s dinner before the tournament is going to be on a naval ship. We have to be out there for registration on July 16.”

NBC golf commentator Johnny Miller, one of only two players to win both the U.S. Junior and U.S. Open titles (Tiger Woods was the other), will be guest speaker at the dinner.

Walp said the key to his round was “staying focused for 36 holes and not worrying about your score.”

“I kept my tee ball in play and had open shots to the greens,” he said.

Both Walp and Sweet have plenty of tournament experience. Walp shot 73-76 last week in the Charlie’s Maine Open. He finished fourth in the amateur division and was low junior.

Last summer, Walp won the Maine Junior Championship.

Sweet played in the final group and finished fourth last summer in the Maine Amateur. He played in his first Maine Amateur in 2007 at age 12 at Waterville Country Club.

Sweet also won the New England Junior title two summers ago at Old Marsh Country Club in Wells and was a member of the Maine team that played in the 2010 USGA national team championship.

Sweet was playing in a junior tournament Wednesday in Massachusetts and was unavailable for comment.

“Seth is real happy about getting a chance to play in the U.S. Juniors,” said his father, Dan. “We already have our plane tickets. We’re going out as a family.”

Sweet, who turns 17 in July, will be a senior at Madison High. The Bulldogs didn’t have a golf team last fall because of lack of players, but this season they will have a team with the addition of several incoming freshmen.

Walp and Sweet were successful in their second tries qualifying for the national tournament.

“I tried to qualify last year but it didn’t go so well,” said Walp.

Walp has elevated his game in the past year, said Deering Coach Bill Goodman.

“Joe has been the team’s No. 1 player since his freshman season,” said Goodman. “He’s self-taught. With hard work and natural ability, Joe has raised his game to another level. That showed in the Maine Open.

“His family joined Falmouth Country Club this year. Playing a more challenging course has also helped.”

Goodman said Walp has the ideal temperament for golf.

“His expression is the same. You can never tell what kind of a round he is having,” said Goodman.

Both golfers intend to play golf in college. Walp said he wants to stay in New England while Sweet is looking at the University of Louisville as one of his choices.

“I’m looking at southern New England schools,” said Walp.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 

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