June 6, 2005

Former Navy golf standouts Billy Hurley and Aaron Wright are among 156 players who will participate in the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier held at the Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md. next Monday. Just 22 of the 156 players will qualify to play in the U.S. Open which is slated to begin June 16 at the Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina. Monday's U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier is a one-day, 36-hole event.

A four-time All-Patriot League selection and 2004 PING Honorable Mention All-American, Hurley is one of the finest golfers in the program's history. Awarded the Academy's Thompson Trophy Cup, presented to that midshipman, male or female, who has done the most during the year to promote athletics at the Naval Academy, he added to his lengthy list of accomplishments when he learned he was the recipient of the 2004 Byron Nelson Award. Additionally, he was one of the first-two players to be named to the 2004 Palmer Cup presented by Monster Team and is the first player to represent a service academy in the annual Ryder Cup-style competition. He was also on the watch list for the 2004 The Ben Hogan Award and was named the 2004 Patriot League Player of the Year after capturing the Patriot League Tournament title. Hurley, who garnered PING Mid-Atlantic Region recognition as a junior and senior, completed his collegiate career in 2004 when he placed 14th at the NCAA East Region Championship in New Haven, Conn.

Upon graduation, Ens. Hurley, served as a surface warfare officer aboard the U.S.S. Gettysburg in Florida and is now back at the Academy where he is assisting in the Economics department.

A native of Anna, Ill., Wright gained All-America recognition in 1998 after leading the Midshipmen to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1983. A member of the Patriot League's All-Decade Team, Wright posted a 7-over par 223 at the Melrose Golf Course in Hilton Head, S.C. and led the Mids to a 19th-place finish at the East Region Championship. He also is one of five Navy players to have won the Patriot League Individual Championship, claiming the title in 1997 with a three-round 214 which at that time was the best individual performance in league history. While at the Academy, Wright qualified and played in two U.S. Amateur tournaments.

Prior to his arrival at the Naval Academy, Wright was a successful juniors player, as well. As a high school junior, he was a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Junior Amateur, losing to Tiger Woods.

Upon graduation, Wright was commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as an infantry officer. He served tours of duty in Korea and Afghanistan before ending his military career in December of 2003. He now lives in Orlando, Fla., where he is currently a professional golfer.

Hurley qualified for Monday's U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier as a co-medalist in a tournament held in Jacksonville. He will be paired up with the legendary Tom Kite, who is a seven-time member of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team and won the 1992 U.S. Open. Meanwhile, Wright, who also qualified for the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier following his senior year at the Academy, posted a 68 in his qualifier in St. Louis, winning the tournament by three strokes. He will be paired up with Brett Quigley who is currently on the PGA Tour.