Patrick Deardorff shoots a 69 at the qualifier at Oakland University. Photo: Provided

By Wendi Reardon Price
Staff Writer
wprice@mihomepaper.com
Patrick Deardorff is heading to Minnesota after qualifying for the 124th United States Amateur Championship at Hazeltine Golf Club, Aug. 12-18.
Deardorff, a 2019 graduate of Clarkston High School, shared he has wanted to qualify for the United States Amateur since he started playing competitive golf at 13-years-old.
“I won the Michigan Junior State Amateur Championship in 2019, and in 2023 I won the stroke play portion of the Michigan AM,” he said. “When I made the putt in the playoff for the US Amateur I was ecstatic.”
Deardorff shared playing in the qualifiers has been intense but a lot of fun.
“The first round I played locally,” he said. “I played at Oakland University – Katke Course where I shot a 69. Then, the second round I played at Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet course and shot a 71 – winning in a play off.”
Deardorff added he is preparing for the tournament the same way he prepares for any tournament. For mental preparation, he listens to podcasts of people who have experienced that level of competition and how they approached it. For the physical preparation, he does a few things.
“Along with my golf practice routine of going to the driving range, putting green, working on my chip shots and bunker shots, I work out at a local gym,” he said. “I like to run.”
Deardorff played for the Clarkston Boys Varsity Golf team under the direction of Pete Gallagher and led the team with seven victories out of ten events.
After graduation he took a year off to focus on golf.
“My gap year gave me a chance to mature and be able to focus on my short and long term goals,” Deardorff shared.
He was recruited to play Division 1 golf at Eastern Michigan University, where he recently graduated with a degree in Supply Chain/Purchasing.
“Both Clarkston and Eastern Michigan University have been a huge help in my journey,” Deardorff said. “They have provided me with the avenues to grow as a person and a golfer.”
Deardorff plans to go pro after the United States Amateur tournament.
“I grew up watching the PGA tour and have always wanted to do it,” he said. “Now that I’m grown up, I realize it is not so much about reaching the PGA, but the process in which I can go about it and the life lessons I learn along the way.”
Deardorff shared wherever he is, Clarkston is still home. He sends a special thanks to everyone who helped him on his journey.
“I would like to thank my former coaches, teachers, neighbors and friends for their support,” he said. “I would especially like to thank my parents and sister, Meghan (a 2017 graduate of CHS and college golfer), for their love and support. Golf is a roller-coaster sport and my family has been there to support me thru the ups and downs.”