Tide's Thompson Top Amateur In U.S. Open

Michael Thompson, a senior on The University of Alabama golf team this past season, shot 1-over, 72, in the final round of the 2008 U.S. Open in San Diego, Calif., on Sunday to medal as the tournament’s low amateur. The Tucson, Arizona native shot 74-73-73-72/292 to finish the tournament at 8-over par.

Michael Thompson was the 2008 Southeastern Conference Golfer of the Year and the SEC Champion. The former U.S. Amateur runner-up also played in this year's Masters. He led Alabama to the SEC Championship and the Crimson Tide was ranked number one in the nation much of the year.

Thompson’s final round on Sunday began with a bogey at No. 1 and would conclude with birdies on holes 3, 4, 7 and 11, and bogeys on 1, 6, 8, 12 and 16. He made nine pars in the round. Thompson was at even par Sunday after 15 holes before he bogeyed No. 16, a par 3. In all in his 72 holes of play, which began with the first round on Thursday, he made a total of 12 birdies, 42 pars, 16 bogeys and two double bogeys.

He will receive a U.S. Open medal as the low amateur, finishing five shots ahead of Oklahoma State’s Rickie Fowler and seven strokes ahead of 2008 Louisville senior Derek Fathauer who both also made the cut on Friday.

Thompson will be joined by Fathauer and Fowler as teammates on the United State’s eight-man Palmer Cup Team competing against Europe’s eight-man team June 26-27 in Glasgow, Scotland. Thompson will turn pro following that tournament.