The United States Men's Amateur championship is the oldest of any USGA championship, played since 1895. Participants have to have a 2.4 handicap or better.

This year's tournament is being played Aug. 18-24 at Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 4 in North Carolina.

Here are capsules of the local products – Tacoma's T.J. Bordeaux, Olympia's Cameron Peck, University Place's Andrew Putnam and Gig Harbor's Kyle Stanley:

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1, T.J. BORDEAUX
Hometown: Tacoma.
Age: 19.
School: Bellarmine Prep/Pacific.
Best U.S. Am finish: First appearance.
How he qualified: Finished fourth at sectionals (Chambers Bay Golf Course, 146).
Bio: What a first year for Bordeaux, who might slide under the radar compared to some of his higher-profile counterparts. Bordeaux captured the 2008 Oregon Duck Classic, was named to the all-Big West first team and en route to reaching the second round of the British Amateur this summer, he upset medalist Sam Hutsby.
Outlook: He's consistent, and he's steadily improved his ball-striking and course management. Considering he's already qualified for match play at the British Am, fully expect Bordeaux to do the same at the U.S. Am, and win a match.

2, CAMERON PECK
Hometown: Olympia.
Age: 17.
School: Timberline High.
Best U.S. Am finish: First appearance.
How he qualified: Received an exemption for winning the 2008 U.S. Junior Amateur in Alabama.
Bio: The hottest junior golfer around, winning a pair of AJGA tournaments since the spring, and becoming the third Washington golfer to nab the U.S. Junior Am with a 10-and-8 victory over Evan Beck. Peck has risen to No. 2 in the current AJGA rankings behind Morgan Hoffmann.
Outlook: What's to say about a teenager who's already won a USGA championship? Peck is in total control of his game right now, but the question is how much does he have left in the tank for another exhaustive run here? If he gets to match play, that would be OK.

3, ANDREW PUTNAM
Hometown: University Place.
Age: 18.
School: Life Christian Academy/Pepperdine.
Best U.S. Am finish: Reached the round of 16 at the 2007 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club.
How he qualified: Medalist at sectionals (Boyne Resorts, Mich., 139).
Bio: Earned third team All-American honors last season as a freshman, Putnam – the younger brother of Nationwide Tour pro Michael Putnam – finished second in his first collegiate tournament (Club Glove Intercollegiate), and tied a school single-round scoring record by firing a 63. He was on the 2005 Hogan Cup team.
Outlook: A real sleeper contender. Putnam was a 2006 U.S. Junior Am semifinalist, and won two matches a year ago at The Olympic Club. Seems to thrive more in one-on-one competition, so this format is right up his alley.

4, KYLE STANLEY
Hometown: Gig Harbor.
Age: 20.
School: Bellarmine Prep/Clemson.
Best U.S. Am finish: Reached round of 32 at the 2007 U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club.
How he qualified: Received an exemption as a member of the 2007 U.S. Walker Cup team.
Bio: Is this guy going places or what? Earlier this month, he won his second Southern Amateur title – only weeks after qualifying for his U.S. Open at Torrey Pines South Course. As a sophomore at Clemson, he claimed his second top-10 finish at the NCAA Division I men's championships in June.
Outlook: Stanley has to be considered one of a handful of favorites. He must think so, too, because he's taking a couple weeks off in August to sharpen his game for this championship.