Loyola Freshmen Michael Asselta, Zach Berger Qualify for 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship
Two Loyola University Maryland freshmen are wasting little time making their mark in collegiate golf.
Michael Asselta and Zach Berger teamed up Wednesday at Maryland Golf & Country Club in Bel Air, shooting a 7-under-par 65 to qualify for the 2027 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. Asselta and Berger finished second in the qualifier, earning a trip to one of the premier amateur golf championships in the country.
The accomplishment is particularly impressive considering Asselta and Berger are less than three weeks into their college careers at Loyola. The two Greyhounds will represent Loyola on a national stage when the championship is played May 22-26, 2027, at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.
Greyhounds overcome difficult opening hole
Asselta and Berger did not get off to the start they wanted Wednesday. The Loyola duo bogeyed the first hole to fall to 1-over, immediately putting themselves in a position where they needed to respond.
They did exactly that.
Berger produced the team’s first birdie on the par-3 third hole, bringing the pair back toward even par. Asselta followed with a birdie of his own on the par-5 fourth, quickly erasing the damage from the opening hole and beginning Loyola’s move up the leaderboard.
Asselta and Berger continued to build momentum as they approached the turn. Asselta birdied the par-5 ninth before Berger added another birdie on No. 10, giving the Greyhounds consecutive birdies and positioning them for a strong finish.
Asselta’s eagle changes the round
The biggest moment of the qualifying round came on the 340-yard, par-4 13th hole. Asselta recorded an eagle, a two-shot swing that moved the Loyola freshmen to 5-under for the day and put them firmly in contention for a qualifying position.
Berger then took over down the stretch.
With a berth in the national championship within reach, Berger birdied both the 17th and 18th holes. Those back-to-back closing birdies completed a remarkable back-nine 29 and gave Asselta and Berger their final score of 7-under 65.
That was good enough for second place and, more importantly, secured their place in the 2027 championship.
Early national opportunity for Loyola freshmen
The achievement adds another significant accomplishment to Asselta’s young career. Before arriving at Loyola, Asselta qualified for the 2026 U.S. Junior Amateur at Saucon Valley Country Club in Pennsylvania. The USGA field information listed him among the players who had signed to play college golf beginning in fall 2026.
Now Asselta will have another opportunity to compete in a USGA championship, this time alongside one of his Loyola teammates.
For Berger, his performance in Bel Air showed an ability to deliver when the pressure increased. His birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 were critical because every stroke matters in a one-round qualifier. Instead of protecting their position, Berger and Asselta finished aggressively and earned their championship berth.
The format also makes their accomplishment noteworthy. Four-ball golf requires two players to compete as a side, with each golfer playing his own ball and the team’s lower score counting on each hole. That places a premium on teammates complementing one another throughout the round.
Asselta and Berger did exactly that Wednesday. Berger supplied important birdies early and late, while Asselta’s eagle on No. 13 provided the biggest single-hole boost of the round.
Erin Hills awaits
The next step will come in May when Asselta and Berger head to Wisconsin for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.
Erin Hills has previously hosted major USGA championships and will provide a significant stage for the Loyola freshmen. For Asselta and Berger, simply qualifying gives them months to continue developing their games during their freshman seasons before testing themselves against a national amateur field.
The berth also gives Loyola men’s golf additional national exposure. Having two freshmen qualify together is an encouraging early development for a program that will have both players available throughout their collegiate careers.
MSB Take
Asselta and Berger could not have asked for a much better way to begin their Loyola careers. They have been college golfers for only a few weeks, yet they have already earned the opportunity to represent the Greyhounds in a USGA national championship.
The most encouraging part was how they earned it. After opening with a bogey, Asselta and Berger did not allow the mistake to define their round. Asselta delivered the eagle that put them in excellent position, and Berger responded with consecutive birdies when the pressure was highest.
A 7-under 65 and a back-nine 29 are impressive numbers under any circumstances. Doing it with a spot in a USGA championship on the line makes the performance even more significant. When Asselta and Berger arrive at Erin Hills next May, Maryland Sports Blog will have two more local college golfers to follow on the national stage.
