High School Teacher Qualifies For US Open, Plays Practice Round With Jordan Spieth

Getty Image / Ross Kinniard

The US Open is truly an open tournament, and practically anyone with a low enough handicap can make their way through qualification to play in one of the premier events in the world against the game’s best players. Colin Prater is living proof of that at this week’s 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina.

The 29-year-old, like many, made it through local and sectional qualifying to get a shot at the US Open. But, his story doesn’t have many similarities with the rest of the qualifiers after that.

Oftentimes, many of these qualifiers are guys that are essentially professional golfers or high-level college players that have not yet turned pro. Sometimes, it’s big-name pro golfers that haven’t earned an exemption into the field that come out of US Open qualifying. For instance, past major champions Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia both came through qualifying this year to become alternates and eventually make it into the field.

Meanwhile, Colin Prater, while obviously being a sensational golfer, is not a professional golfer. Instead, he teaches high school biology in Colorado Springs, Colorado while also serving as the team’s golf coach. Somehow he balances his job plus his role as a husband and the father of a toddler to be good enough to belong on the course with the best players in the world.

When I say the best players in the world, that’s exactly what I mean. On Wednesday, Pater was supposed to  tee it up in a practice round with the best player in the world, Scottie Scheffler.  

While that seems to have fallen through, he is playing with three-time major champion, Jordan Spieth. 

That’s quite the thrill for Prater, who played his college golf at Colorado Mesa.

He will tee off in round 1 on Thursday at 8:57 AM ET with Carson Schaake and Charlie Reiter.