Ian McConnell of Riverview has qualified for the US Amateur Public Links Championship after shooting a 5-under par round of 67 at Bloomingdale Golf Club on Wednesday to finish with a two-round total of 138. McConnell was the tournament medalist, and will compete for the USGA-sanctioned championship at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado on July 14 - 19.

McConnell started to make his move at the ninth hole, recording three consecutive birdies to move to 4 under for the tournament. He added birdies on the 14th and the 16th to qualify along with David Johnson of Palm Bay.

“You just start to get into a rhythm” McConnell said of his play around the turn. “Especially when you’re playing well, you get that rhythm you just want to keep playing.”

McConnell said one of his goals every year is to reach one of the USGA Championships, and with McConnell’s qualifying tournament for the U.S. Junior Championship coming this weekend, and the U.S. Amateur after that, he said it has taken some pressure off him for those events.

“One of my big goals for each year is to qualify for a USGA Championship,” McConnell said. “Now I’ve got that out of the way playing at the junior qualifier this weekend, and the U.S. Amateur qualifying in August, it takes the pressure off those.”