URBANA, Md. – Loyola University Maryland Head Golf Coach Chris Baloga and Assistant Will Wears '17 qualified for their third U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship on Wednesday when Baloga made a birdie putt in a 6-for-2 playoff at the Worthington Manor Golf Course qualifying site.

The duo earned a spot in the 2026 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in May 2026 that will be played at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. The bid is the pair's third as a team to the event; they played in the 2023 and 2024 events together.

In Wednesday's qualifier, Baloga birdied the 14th, 15th and 16th holes, and Wears birdied the 18th in regulation to give the team an 18-hole score of 8-under 64. They were in a six-group for two spots playoff, and Baloga's birdie putt secured the bid. 

Baloga, who is in his 16th year as the Greyhounds' head coach, has now qualified for six U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championships.