Mike Miller Turns Professional
UPDATED: August 22, 2013, 9 p.m. - Miller had quite the professional debut this past week at Old Westbury Golf and Country Club. The 21-year-old finished alone in third on the heels of a brilliant final round 4-under 67, that included four birdies on his final nine holes.
Following a three-putt bogey on the uphill par 3 14th, Miller rebounded with a remarkable 3-iron from 255 yards away on the par 5 16th to set up an easy two-putt birdie. He missed two more birdies by inches on the 17th and 18th but was still able to match the championship low score.
RELATED VIDEO: Miller on his final round
OLD WESTBURY, N.Y. (August 20, 2013) - Highly accomplished amateur and two-time reigning MGA Player of the Year Mike Miller will be making his professional debut when he steps onto the first tee at Old Westbury Golf and Country Club on Tuesday afternoon.
RELATED VIDEO: Mike talks about turning pro
Miller, 21, who recently advanced to match play at the U.S. Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass. (and one of only three players out of 312 to shoot two under par rounds during stroke play qualifying), will now be vying for a share of the $125,000 Met Open purse ($27,500 awarded to the winner).
"After the U.S. Am when I didn't make it through, and I made the decision, I kind of mentally prepared for the Met Open to be my first professional event," he said. "The Met section has been unbelievable to me, I'm really just grateful for this to be my first pro start."
The Brewster, N.Y., native who plays out of Knollwood (where his father Bob is the head professional) has had an exceptional amateur career, highlighted by his two Player of the Year awards in 2011 and 2012.
Here's a list of notable finishers Miller:
AMATEUR VICTORIES:
2013 Wilson Cup Invitational
2012 USGA Men's State Team Championship
2012 Boff Invitational
2012 Westchester Amateur Championship
2011 Met Amateur Championship
2010 Met Junior Championship
2009 Mittelmark Invitational
2009 WGA Junior Championship
AMATEUR HIGHLIGHTS:
T-3rd, 2013 Ike Championship
T-3rd, 2013 Sunnehanna Amateur Tournament for Champions
Runner-up, 2013 Travis Invitational
Semifinalist, 2012 Met Amateur Championship
10th (3rd low amateur), 2012 Met Open Championship
Runner-up, 2012 Sunnehanna Invitational
Runner-up, 2012 NYC Amateur
4th, 2012 Ike Championship
T-4th, 2012 Westchester Open
T-6th, 2012 Hochster Invitational
Round of 32, 2012 US Amateur Championship
T-4th, 2012 Lytham Trophy
T-4th, 2012 Irish Amateur Championship
T-2nd, 2011 WGA Open Championship
2nd, 2011 Hochster Memorial Tournament
Runner-up, 2011 WGA Amateur
T-3rd, 2011 NYC Amateur Championship
Quarterfinalist, 2010 Met Amateur
3rd, 2010 Carter Cup; 4th in 2009
3rd, 2010 Wilson Cup
5th, 2010 Hochster Memorial
Quarterfinalist, 2009 Met Junior
OTHER NOTABLE FINISHES:
Member, 2013 Carey Cup Team
MGA Player of the Year, 2012 and 2011
Member, 2012 French-American Challenge team
WGA Player of the Year, 2012 and 2011
One of 16 amateurs invited to 2012 Walker Cup Practice Session
Member, 2011 Carey Cup team