Valparaiso University junior Zach Cutler (O’Fallon, Mo./Timberland) is set to compete at the 116^th U.S. Amateur Championship next week at Oakland Hills C.C. in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. The prestigious tournament will be contested over seven days, starting on Monday, Aug. 15.

Cutler, the first Crusader men’s golfer to qualify for the U.S. Amateur since Kyle Henning in 2012, had a wild ride in his qualifier at Old Hickory G.C. in St. Peters, Mo. In a field of 67 golfers, only two of whom would qualify for the U.S. Amateur, Cutler shot an opening-round 77 to kick off the 36-hole event. But he bounced back in a big way, birdieing nine holes in his second round in a round of 66, enough to place him in a three-way playoff for the second qualifying slot. Cutler then came out on top in what became an eight-hole sudden death playoff to earn the second berth.

Cutler and the other 311 golfers will compete in 36 holes of stroke play over the first two days, as all competitors will play one round over Oakland Hills’ North Course and one round over the South Course. The low 64 advance to match play, which begins on Wednesday. Cutler will tee off Monday on hole 10 on the South Course at 8:45 a.m. CT and begins Tuesday at 2 p.m. CT on hole 1 of the North Course.