SEAN BOSTON
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Three weeks ago, Ty Adkins wasn’t even sure he’d get a chance to tee it up in a U.S. Amateur qualifier. Now, the 2023 Hutchinson High School graduate is preparing to compete on one of golf’s grandest amateur stages.
Adkins, who recently wrapped up his sophomore season at Wichita State and is transferring to South Dakota State this fall, earned a spot in the 125th U.S. Amateur Championship with a 6-under-par 66 on Monday in final qualifying at Milburn Country Club in Overland Park. He tied for medalist honors with his former Shocker teammate, Michael Winslow, to claim one of the coveted invitations.
“I honestly didn’t even think I’d get into the first qualifier,” Adkins said. “I signed up late and was seventh on the waitlist. The whole journey from there to qualifying for the U.S. Am has been surreal.”
The 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship will be held Aug. 11–17 at the historic Olympic Club in San Francisco. The tournament opens with two rounds of stroke play on the Ocean Course, before the top 64 scorers advance to match play on the famed Lake Course. The Olympic Club has hosted five U.S. Opens, most recently in 2012, and the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open.
“It’s one of the most historic venues in the country,” Adkins said. “Just being able to walk those fairways and compete against the best amateurs in the world, it’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid.”
That dream almost didn’t happen. Adkins received a late call-up to the July 1 local qualifier at Beatrice Country Club in Nebraska and responded with a 4-under-par 68, good for a fourth-place finish and a spot in final qualifying.
At Milburn, Adkins made the turn at 1-under before catching fire on the back nine. He went 5-under over his final five holes, including birdies on holes 12, 14, 15 and 16, and capped the run with a bunker hole-out eagle on the par-5 17th. Adkins went from tied for 15th place after 11 holes to the lead after the strong finish.
“I bogeyed 11, and that’s when I knew I had to make a run,” he said. “I hit some really good shots coming in, and when that eagle dropped, I kind of zoned out. I couldn’t believe it was happening.”
His brother, Trent, also a Hutch High alum, was by his side every step of the way, having taken the day off work to serve as his caddie.
“He doesn’t play a lot of golf, but he was awesome out there,” Adkins said. “He kept me grounded and helped me stay calm down the stretch. That meant the world to me.”
The performance was years in the making. Adkins credited a long list of mentors and supporters, beginning with his former high school coach, Charlie Pierce.
“Coach Pierce really introduced me to competitive golf,” Adkins said. “He let me start practicing with the high school team when I was still in middle school. That made a huge difference in my development.”
"I'm so happy for Ty," Pierce said. "He's worked so hard for everything he's accomplished, and it's great to see his hard work rewarded."
Adkins also paid tribute to the late Mike Kenney and Rusty Hilst, two pillars of the Hutchinson golf community who helped guide his journey.
“Mike helped me become a better golfer and a better person. And Rusty, he was always in my corner, helping me with scholarships, writing letters, and always checking in. I wish I could’ve called him after I qualified. I know he’d be proud.”
A constant source of support, Adkins’ parents, Troy and Susan, have been with him for every step of his golf journey. From junior tournaments to state tournaments to this summer’s breakthrough run, they’ve logged countless miles and never wavered in their belief.
“My parents have sacrificed so much for me to chase this dream,” Adkins said. “They’ve driven me all over the country, supported every crazy tournament I’ve signed up for, and never stopped encouraging me. I wouldn’t be in this position without them.”
A regular at Prairie Dunes Country Club, Adkins was made an honorary member in high school and has worked as a caddie there throughout college. He credits the world-renowned course, and its longtime head professional, John Lanham, as a major part of his development.
“John Lanham has been incredible to me,” Adkins said. “He’s always let me come out and practice as long as I’m working and caddying. There’s not many better places in Kansas to practice than Prairie Dunes, just having this course in Hutchinson is just insane. It's one of the best courses in the country and one of the best courses in the world. It's really a blessing to be able to play out here and I owe a lot of my success to that course and to John.”
After two seasons at Wichita State, Adkins entered the transfer portal and will head to Brookings, South Dakota this fall to join the South Dakota State golf program under head coach Parker Edens.
“I’m excited for the new opportunity,” Adkins said. “Coach Edens is a great golfer himself, and I think I can learn a lot from him. I’m hoping he can even caddie for me at the U.S. Am.”
"To have players qualify for USGA events is a huge deal for our program," Eden said. "We have been lucky enough to have two players do that this summer, with Ty qualifying for the U.S. Am and an incoming freshman qualify for the U.S. Junior. To have the Jackrabbits represented at the biggest amateur tournament in the world is a great representation of where our program is headed and we are grateful to have Ty being the one representing us there. I think this shows the quality of program we are building and have here in Brookings, South Dakota."
The championship begins Monday, Aug. 11 with 18 holes of stroke play, followed by another round Tuesday. The top 64 players then advance to head-to-head match play, culminating in a 36-hole championship match on Sunday, Aug. 17.
Adkins plans to arrive in San Francisco a few days early to walk the course and prepare for what he calls the most exciting week of his life.
“I’ve worked so hard for this,” he said. “And I’ve been blessed with people around me who’ve believed in me the whole way. I’m ready to compete, to soak it all in, and to show I belong out there.”