Could another Augusta-area golfer make the Masters Tournament?

Former Evans High School golfer Chris Kuhlke had quite a day June 10 at Stone Mountain Golf Club.

Kuhlke fired rounds of 69-69 at the United States Public Links qualifying to post a seven-shot win and earn a spot in the field at next month's U.S. Public Links championship at Blue Heron Pine Golf Club in Cologne, N.J..

Aside from claiming a coveted United States Golf Association title, the winner of the Public Links gets a nice perk - a spot in the Masters.

Kuhlke, who also played at Augusta State University, would be considered a long shot to win the Public Links event, but as he showed with his dominating victory at Stone Mountain, Kuhlke can get hot and record some low numbers.

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If Kuhlke gets on a roll, look out. He might make it all the way to the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club next April.

More Knight golf

Kuhlke wasn't the only Evans product producing good golf this month.

Zac Tilton, who graduated from Evans this spring, used steady play to garner medalist honors Monday in the Georgia State Amateur qualifying round at West Lake Country Club.

With a solid 73, Tilton earned a place in the field at the state amateurs, which will be played July 10-13 at Pine Tree Country Club in Kennesaw.

The second-place finisher at Monday's qualifier also advanced, and that was none other than Kris Shepherd, Tilton's former teammate at Evans.

Shepherd shot 75 at West Lake, and he shouldn't have any problem finding a practice-round partner next month at Pine Tree - he and Tilton are good friends, and they are going to be roommates and teammates this fall as members of the Kennesaw State University golf team.

Back when they were teammates at Evans, Shepherd played No. 1 for the Knights and Tilton was No. 2. Those positions flip-flopped last week at West Lake, thanks to a putting tip Shepherd gave to Tilton before the qualifier.