Bucknell University Athletics
Former Bison Golf Standout Charlie Waddell to Play in U.S. Amateur
8/9/2016 6:02:00 PM | Men's Golf
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Charlie Waddell, a two-time Patriot League men's golf champion and a member of the Patriot League 25th Anniversary Team, will be playing in the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship next week at Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan.
The U.S. Amateur runs from Aug. 15-21 and consists of 36 holes of stroke play to qualify for one of 64 match play spots. Waddell is one of 312 qualifiers out of more than 7,300 applicants. He was one of three qualifiers last month out of Mistwood Golf Club near his hometown of Chicago, where he shot a 2-under-par 142 (70-72) to finish in third place and advance to the U.S. Amateur for the second time (he also made it in 2014).
Waddell was the Patriot League champion and Golfer of the Year in both 2005 and 2006, and he remains the only two-time medalist in league history. In his four years at Bucknell, Waddell finished sixth, first, first and third at the Patriot League Championship, and he was the No. 1 player on title-winning teams in 2006 and 2007.
Waddell shot 67-71-71 for a then league-record 54-hole score of 209 (-1) at the 2005 Patriot League Championship. His spectacular birdie on the 17th hole of the final round at the Bucknell Golf Club sent him to a one-stroke victory over teammate Ben Pellicani. One year later at the U.S. Naval Academy Golf Course, Waddell compiled a 3-under-par 210 (69-70-71) to repeat as champion by a whopping 10 strokes, while sending the Bison to their very first Patriot League title in the sport of men's golf, and their first NCAA team appearance since 1961. He settled for a third-place individual finish as a senior in 2007, but his final-round 68 helped clinch a second-straight team championship and NCAA appearance.
A nominee for the prestigious Byron Nelson Award, Waddell graduated as the school record-holder for season (73.4) and career (74.9) scoring average. He won four career tournaments and was runner-up four times.
Following graduation, Waddell has continued to play competitive golf as both a professional and amateur.
