No. 14 at Pinehurst No. 2 (USGA/John Mummert)
Qualifying for the 2019 U.S. Amateur has been completed at 96 qualifying sites across the U.S., plus Canada and Mexico.
The USGA accepted 7,191 entries for the 119th U.S. Amateur Championship, to be played Aug. 12-18, 2018 at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort's Nos. 2 and 4 courses. The U.S. Amateur champion receives a world of perks, from automatic selection to the U.S. Walker Cup team (if he is eligible) to an invitation to the Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship to starts in a handful of other professional events. It's a life-changing win.
Highlights from qualifying are below:
July 24
Shaker Heights (Ohio) CC
Qualifiers: Maxwell Moldovan (Uniontown, Ohio), 136; Ryan Gerard (Raleigh, N.C.), 139
July 23
Cooper Dossey has made headlines already this summer at Pinehurst as winner of the North & South Amateur. Unfortunately, that win didn’t guarantee him a start at the U.S. Amateur next month. Dossey got in the hard way, advancing with the third of three qualifying spots at White Deer Run Golf Club in Vernon Hills, Ill. Dossey advanced with two shots to spare.
Qualifiers: Andrew Price (Lake Bluff, Ill.), 135; Jordan Hahn (Spring Grove, Ill.), 136; Cooper Dossey (Austin, Texas), 137
• • •
OSU GC (Scarlet Course), Columbus, Ohio
Qualifiers: Tyler Jones (Westerville, Ohio), 140; Giovanni Tadiotto (Belgium), 140
• • •
Jennings Mill CC, Bogart, Ga.
Qualifiers: Preston Desantis (Johns Creek, Ga.), 135; Jansen Preston (Lexington, Ky.), 135; Spencer Ball (Suwanee, Ga.), 138; Colin Bowles (Albany, Ga.), 139; Maxwell Ford (Peachtree Corners, Ga.), 139
• • •
It’s a score for the mid-ams as
Richard “Skip” Berkmeyer qualifies for the U.S. Amateur for the second year in a row. Berkmeyer made it to match play a year ago at Pebble Beach, but lost in the first round. This week, he advanced through the qualifier at Meadowbrook CC in his native St. Louis with the third and final spot.
Qualifiers: John Marshall Butler (Louisville, Ky.), 140; Jacob Eklund (Carbondale, Ill.), 142; Richard Berkmeyer (Town and Country, Mo.), 144
• • •
Quicksilver GC, Midway, Pa.
Qualifiers: Palmer Jackson (Murrysville, Pa.), 138; Mark Goetz (Greensburg, Pa.), 140; Trent Karlik (McKees Rocks, Pa.), 141
July 22
Add another Pepperdine player to the Pinehurst tee sheet:
Clay Feagler medaled at Hacienda GC in La Habra Heights, Calif., with an 11-under 131 (66-65) and will join his Waves teammate (and roommate) Sahith Theegala in the championship. Two other Pepperdine players, Joe Highsmith and Derek Hitchner, have also qualified.
Qualifiers: Clay Feagler (Laguna Niguel, Calif.), 131; Nathan Park (Lake Forest, Calif.), 137; Matt Wilson (Cypress, Calif.), 137
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Luke Long
| Andres Schonbaum
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Luke Long, a Fayetteville, Ark., native who will be a senior at Houston in the fall, medaled at the qualifier in his home state – Chenal Country Club in Little Rock, Ark. Several players teed it up at Chenal days after the end of the Southern Amateur, also played at that venue. Argentina mid-amateur
Andres Schonbaum, runner-up at the George L. Coleman Invitational earlier this year, also advanced.
Qualifiers: Luke Long (Fayetteville, Ark.), 141; Christopher Woollam (South Africa), 141; Andres Schonbaum (Argentina), 142; Kyler Tate (Winter Garden, Fla.), 142
• • •
Blake Hathcoat became the second player on the Saint Mary’s College (Calif.) roster to qualify for the U.S. Amateur by taking the only available spot at Kings CC in Hanford, Calif. Hathcoat will join teammate Ryan Grauman at Pinehurst.
Qualifiers: Blake Hathcoat (Fresno, Calif.), 133
• • •
Mission Viejo (Calif.) CC
Qualifiers: Andi Xu (San Diego, Calif.), 138; Kaito Onishi (Japan), 139; Liam Koeneke (San Diego, Calif.), 141
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Josh McCollum
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Josh McCollum, runner-up at the recent Pacific Northwest Amateur and winner of the Long Beach City Match Play earlier this summer, has punched his ticket to the U.S. Amateur across the country. The Upland, Calif., native, who plays college golf for Chico State, was among three players to advance from the Red Hill CC qualifier in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Qualifiers: Joseph Murray (Upland, Calif.), 138; Cass Traub (Long Beach, Calif.), 144; Josh McCollum (Upland, Calif.), 145
• • •
The Thornhill Club, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada
Qualifiers: Cougar Collins, 136; Jackson Bowery, 137
• • •
Drexel’s Michael Cook and Stanford’s
Nate Menon shared medalist honors at the qualifier at Bidermann Golf Club in Wilmington, Del.
“It’s a little redemption from last year,” said Cook, who missed the qualifying cut at Bidermann in 2018. “I loved the golf course. I just didn’t put up a number. A month ago, I was hitting it the best I have in a while. Then I took a couple of days off from golf and I had to work harder to find something, day-by-day. I finally got it a couple of days ago. I shot 67 at my home course [Applebrook Golf Club], which gave me confidence that I was checking all of the boxes. I was trying to think of the same things to continue that here.”
As for Menon: “It feels really good. I’ve been close the last couple of years. To finally finish it off and get through to Pinehurst is really exciting. I was first alternate [in 2017 and 2018]. Being able to not have to make a decision as to whether you’re going to go down [to the U.S. Amateur host site] is nice. The U.S. Amateur is the pinnacle of amateur golf.”
Quotes from the Golf Association of Philadelphia used in this report
Qualifiers: Michael Cook (Philadelphia, Pa.), 136; Nate Menon (Wyomissing, Pa.), 136
• • •
Sand Creek CC, Chesterton, Ind.
Qualifiers: Mitchell Davis, 139; Brooks Snyder, 141; Patrick Allgeier, 142; Evan Santa, 143
• • •
Tim Pemberton, of Williamsburg, Va., took command early and never let up, as he posted rounds of 66-67 and medaled at the sectional qualifier at Mountain Branch Golf Club in Joppa.
This will mark Pemberton’s third Amateur, but first since 2003-2004. After that he turned pro, but later got his amateur status back. Marriage and 3-year-old twin daughters have provided priorities for the golf consultant, 37.
“These were my seventh and eighth rounds of the year,” he said. “Most of the time I’m chasing around after the twins.”
Quotes and information courtesy Maryland Golf Association
Qualifiers: Tim Pemberton, 133; Austin Barbin, 138
• • •
Walnut Creek CC, South Lyon, Mich.
Qualifiers: Reese Ramsey (Austin), 135; Donnie Trosper (Canton), 135
• • •
Derek Hitchner, a Minneapolis, Minn., native joined his Pepperdine teammates with a ticket to the U.S. Amateur by qualifying out of Dacotah Ridge GC in Morton, Minn. He was second among the three qualifiers, which also included
Van Holmgren, who finished second by a shot at last week’s Minnesota Amateur.
Qualifiers: Ben Sigel (Deephaven, Minn.), 139; Derek Hitchner (Minneapolis, Minn.), 140; Van Holmgren (Plymouth, Minn.), 141
• • •
The Ranch Club, Missoula, Mont.
Qualifiers: Nick Mandell (Kennewick, Wash.), 136
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Aman Gupta
| Scott Stevens
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A couple of college players were out front at the qualifier at Benvenu CC in Rocky Mount, N.C. Oklahoma State’s
Aman Gupta, a Carolinas native, and South Carolina’s
Scott Stevens, recently the co-runner-up at the Northeast Amateur, took the only two qualifying spots.
Qualifiers: Aman Gupta (Concord, N.C.), 138; Scott Stevens (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 139
• • •
After a playoff with Alex Schaake, winner of this month’s Nebraska Amateur (for the fourth time in a row),
Andrew Sajevic has qualified for the U.S. Amateur. Sajevic, an Omaha native who played his college golf for North Carolina, finished 36 holes at 5 under to tie Schaake, then won on the first playoff hole at Shadow Ridge CC in Omaha, Neb.
Qualifiers: Andrew Sajevic (Omaha, Neb.), 139
• • •
Last week,
Austin Greaser played his way to the quarterfinals at the U.S. Junior in his home state at Inverness Golf Club. This week, Greaser has secured his spot at the U.S. Amateur. The 18-year-old co-medaled with Stanford’s
Henry Shimp at Moraine CC in Dayton, Ohio.
Qualifiers: Austin Greaser (Vandalia, Ohio), 138; Henry Shimp (Charlotte, N.C.), 138
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Justin Kadin
| Robbie Ziegler
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Robbie Ziegler and
Justin Kadin advanced from the sectional at OGA Golf Course in Woodburn.
Kadin, from Corvallis, Ore., earned the second qualifying spot after winning in a three-hole playoff with Portland’s Cole Madey when both players tied at 4-under par. Kadin (70-66-136) was red hot on Nos. 10-18 during the second round, posting six birdies in that stretch to shoot 4-under for his final round.
Qualifiers: Robbie Ziegler (Portland, Ore.), 131; Justin Kadin (Corvallis, Ore.), 136
• • •
Two men advanced from Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas – a rather prestigious qualifying spot. Incoming Texas freshman
Travis Vick, playing in his hometown, medaled while
Philip Barbaree, a former U.S. Junior champion who now plays for LSU, earned the second and final spot.
Qualifiers: Travis Vick (Houston), 136; Philip Barbaree (Shreveport, La.), 141
• • •
McClure Meissner, a rising junior at SMU and a Sweet 16-er at last year’s U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, will tee it up again in the nation’s amateur after leading qualifiers at River Crossing Club in Spring Branch, Texas.
Qualifiers: McClure Meissner (San Antonio, Texas), 131; Angelo Leyvani (San Antonio, Texas), 132
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Parker Coody
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After top-10 finishes at the Trans-Miss Championship, Northeast Amateur and Monroe Invitational this summer,
Parker Coody seems primed for the U.S. Amateur. The Texas sophomore took the second of two spots at Mira Vista GC in Dallas, and will head to Pinehurst next month.
Qualifiers: Parker Holekamp (Kingwood, Texas), 134; Parker Coody (Plano, Texas), 135
• • •
Watertown (CC) Wis.
Qualifiers: Harrison Ott (Brookfield, Wis.), 132; Matt Tolan (Eau Claire, Wis.), 138; Nate Thomson (Greendale, Wis.), 139
July 19
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Jeronimo Esteve
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Puerto Rico native
Jeronimo Esteve, an accomplished mid-amateur player, earned the only qualifying spot out of the qualifier in Dorado, Puerto Rico. He was four shots clear of the next-best player. Esteve, a father of three, last played a USGA event in 2017: the U.S. Mid-Amateur. He traveled to Ireland earlier this summer for the Amateur Championship, but missed the cut.
Qualifiers: Jeronimo Esteve (Puerto Rico), 141
July 18
Joe Highsmith shot rounds of 67-66 on the par-70 Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Wash. to earn medalist honors in his sectional qualifier.
Chris Crisologo of Richmond, B.C., who shot rounds of 72-67, earned the second spot.
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Joe Highsmith
| Chris Crisologo
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Highsmith continues his summer of excellent play. Earlier this month he won the prestigious Sahalee Players Championship, and last week he made it to the quarterfinals of the Pacific Northwest Amateur. He just finished his freshman year at Pepperdine University, and was recently named the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. In 2017 he won the Washington State Amateur, and was named the 2017 PNGA Junior Boys’ Player of the Year.
Crisologo is a member of the Canadian National Team, and was named the 2018 PNGA Player of the Year. Last week he made it to the Round of 16 at the Pacific Northwest Amateur. He is a graduate of Simon Fraser University, where he competed on the men’s golf team.
Information from the Washington State Golf Association used in this report
Qualifiers: Joe Highsmith (Lakewood, Wash.), 133; Chris Crisologo (Canada), 139
• • •
Lakeside Golf Course, Lexington, Ky.
Qualifiers: James Inman (Louisville, Ky.), 135; Wonjun Lee (Temple, Fla.), 136
July 17
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Ben Carr
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Georgia Southern rising sophomore
Ben Carr continued his hot summer by medaling at the Woodstock, Ga., qualifier with an impressive lineup of collegians behind him. Carr went 9 under at the Capital City Club to earn the medal by one. Earlier this summer, the Columbus, Ga., native won the Southeastern Amateur after an early-week, record-setting round of 61.
Georgia Tech teammates Luke Schneiderjans and Andy Ogletree were also among the five men to qualify.
Qualifiers: Ben Carr (Columbus, Ga.), 131; William Love (Atlanta), 132; Luke Schneiderjans (Alpharetta, Ga.), 132; Andy Ogletree (Little Rock, Miss.), 133; Josh Armstrong (Act, Australia), 134
• • •
UNC Finley GC, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Qualifiers: Austin Hitt (Longwood, Fla.), 137; Ryan Burnett (Lafayette, Calif.), 138; Nick Dunlap (Greer, S.C.), 139; Nick Lyerly (Salisbury, N.C.) 140
July 16
Days after winning the SCGA Amateur,
Sahith Theegala has qualified for the U.S. Amateur. Theegala is about to enter his senior season at Pepperdine after red-shirting last year with a wrist injury. He took a 10-month break from competition after last year’s U.S. Amateur, but recent results suggest Theegala could be one of the favorites entering Pinehurst.
Qualifiers: Sahith Theegala (Chino Hills, Calif.), 132; Erick Liscio (Murrieta, Calif.), 135; Cody Hall (Wildomar, Calif.), 138
• • •
Kapolei (Hawaii) GC
Qualifiers: Shawn Lu (Honolulu, Hawaii), 137
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Daniel Wetterich
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It has been a whirlwind few months for Ohio State grad
Daniel Wetterich, who started the summer amateur with the first-round lead at the Dogwood Invitational and has teed it up in four of the five weeks since. Wetterich will end his summer with a trip to Pinehurst after finishing second at the qualifier at the Camargo Club in Cincinnati, Ohio. Wetterich was even par for 36 holes.
Qualifiers: Logan Sims, 137; Daniel Wetterich, 140; Andrew Bailey, 141
• • •
Joe Fowler shot rounds of 67-64 today on the par-70 Lake Spanaway Golf Course in Tacoma, Wash., to earn medalist honors in U.S. Amateur sectional qualifying.
Tristan Mandur of Duncan, B.C., who shot rounds of 68-64, . claimed the other available spot.
Both Fowler and Mandur set new course records at Lake Spanaway by shooting 64 in their second rounds.
Qualifiers: Joe Fowler (Sacramento, Calif.), 131; Tristan Mandur (Canada), 132
Fox Hollow, Trinity, Fla.
Qualifiers: Devon Hopkins (Jacksonville, Fla.), 137; Tyler Wilkes (Tampa, Fla.), 138
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Chris Nido
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Three men tied for medalist honors at Mayacoo Lakes in West Palm Beach, Fla., with 1-under 36-hole totals. All three finished three shots ahead of the first alternate. Among those to qualify was University of Florida player
Chris Nido, who started the day with a 75 that included three double bogeys. He redeemed himself with a closing 66.
In other news, Trey Bilardello was very far from qualifying.
Here’s that bizarre story.
Qualifiers: Chris Nido (Puerto Rico), 141; Michael Mays (Winter Park, Fla.), 141; Ryder Sutcliffe (Jupiter, Fla.), 141
• • •
NMSU Golf Course, Las Cruces, N.M.
Qualifiers: Nathan Petronzio (Bee Cave, N.M.), 139
• • •
J.J. Gresco followed up his win at the Nevada State Amateur last week by winning medalist honors at the Las Vegas sectional qualifier with rounds of 69-69 at Spanish Trail CC. Gresco is a Scottsdale, Ariz., native who plays for UNLV.
• • •
Just days after the Players Amateur finished up at Berkeley Hall Club in Bluffton, S.C., several of the top amateurs slid on over to Colleton River Club to secure their spot in the nation’s biggest amateur tournament. Among those to qualify was Hilton Head local
Andrew Orischak, who plays for Virginia, and
Jonathan Brightwell, a UNC Greensboro player who was T-21 at the Players.
Qualifiers: Julian Keur (Summervile, S.C.), 137; Andrew Orischak (Hilton Head, S.C.), 138; Jordan Garner (Shelly Beach, Australia), 139; Jonathan Brightwell (Charlotte, N.C.), 140
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July 15
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Joey Savoie
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Canadians
Calvin Ross and
Joey Savoie had a long trip to their qualifier at The Ledges GC in York, Maine, but for both players the investment was well worth it. Both booked a ticket farther south to Pinehurst next month.
Ross, a 20-year old from Fredericton, New Brunswick and a member of the Texas State men’s golf team, earned medalist honors on the difficult layout with rounds of 69-70 for a 5 under total. Savoie, from the suburbs of Montreal, Quebec, was one shot back.
Qualifiers: Calvin Ross (Fredericton, NB), 139; Joey Savoie (La Prairie, Quebec), 140
• • •
Port Jefferson (N.Y.) CC
Qualifiers: Brent Ito (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 137; Ethan Ng (New York, N.Y.), 137; Andrew Chambers (Boca Raton, Fla.), 139
• • •
Kyle Sterbinsky, a Wake Forest redshirt senior, put together an 8-under 136 total at Cedarbrook Country Club in Blue Bell, Pa., earning medal honors in his U.S. Amateur qualifier. His second-round 63 was good enough for Cedarbrook’s new course record by two strokes, a low mark previously held by six-time GAP Major winner Brandon Matthews. Interestingly enough, Sterbinsky’s opening round had been a 1-over 73.
Qualifiers: Kyle Sterbinsky (Yardley, Pa.), 136; Dawson Anders (Telford, Pa.), 138
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Jason Enloe
| Ryan Grider
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It was a deep field at Trinity Forest Club in Dallas for the July 15 qualifier, but a college coach came out on top. SMU head coach
Jason Enloe, a former pro, tied for medalist honors with Baylor player
Ryan Grider, winner of the recent Texas Amateur. Both men finished the day with a 6 under total. Peri’don Castille, a Dallas local, also finished at that number but lost in a playoff to take the first alternate spot.
Qualifiers: Jason Enloe (Dallas), 136; Ryan Grider (Lewisville, Texas), 136
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With rounds of 70 and a sweltering 64 (8-under 134), former Southern Utah player
Denny Job earned medalist honors in the qualifier at Alpine CC in Highland, Utah, and will head to the Pinehurst in August for the U.S. Amateur.
“My buddy Zac Blair told me 8-under should get in,” Job told the Utah Golf Association. “My goal was to shoot that score…I knew my game was there today. I kept at it and was able to roll in some putts.”
Qualifiers: Denny Job (134), Cole Ponich, 137
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Ridgewood CC, Danbury, Ct.
Qualifiers: Roland Massimino (Lumberville, Pa.), 135; Cody Cox (Milford, Pa.), 139
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Nate McCoy
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Nate McCoy, son of legendary mid-amateur Mike McCoy, was among the two players to qualify out of the Wakonda Club site in Des Moines, Iowa. He won the first hole of a playoff with Sam Vincent to clinch the final spot. McCoy will also join his dad, who is exempt into the U.S. Amateur. It is believed to be only the fourth time a father/son dou has played in the same U.S. Amateur. Nate commented that it will be a special week for sure in North Carolina , August 11-18.
“He (my dad) kept telling me to go punch your ticket,” Nate McCoy told the Iowa Golf Association. “I hope we can play a few practice rounds together. Hopefully it will make my hotel rental a little cheaper. It might be a win-win for me.”
Qualifiers: Jonathan Feldick (Cedar Falls, Iowa), 141; Nate McCoy (Ankeny, Iowa), 142
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Sam Murphy, winner of the 2018 Alabama Amateur, has qualified for the national amateur. The Decatur, Ala., native qualified in his hometown at Decatur Country Club. He medaled with rounds of 70-67 for a 5-under total.
Qualifiers: Sam Murphy (Decatur, Ala.), 137; Jimmy Kev Clements (Louisville, Ky.), 139
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Charles Osborne, a former alipine ski racer who recently completed his freshman season on the SMU roster, led all qualifiers at Sonoma (Calif.) GC. Osborne, who often goes by “Ollie,” went 8 under and finished two ahead of the next two qualifiers.
Qualifiers: Charles Osborne (Reno, Nev.), 136; Thomas Hutchison (San Jose, Calif.), 138; Mark Stephens (Redding, Calif.), 138
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Castlewood CC (Valley Course), Pleasanton, Calif.
Qualifiers: Alexander Chin (Pleasanton, Calif.), 136; Aaron Chen (Fremont, Calif.), 138; Sam Harned (Sparks, Nev.), 138
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Puwit Anupansuebsai is on a roll. The San Diego State player, coming off a win earlier this month at the Bayonet Black Horse Amateur, has qualified for the U.S. Amateur. The Thai player took one of three qualifying spots at CC of Rancho Bernardo in San Diego. It was a dicey ending for Anupansuebsai, though. He bogeyed his final hole to drop from a share of medalist honors to a share of second, and made the cut by one shot.
Qualifiers: Cullen Plousha (Carlsbad, Calif.), 130; Hide Yoshihara (Irvine, Calif.), 131; Puwit Anupansuebsai (Huntington Beach, Calif.), 131
July 14
Junior golfer, and Florida native, Jude Kim was the sole qualifier out of Santa Lucia River Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Steady rounds of 68-70 left the teen, who recently finished eighth at the Florida Junior Amateur, on top by three shots.
Qualifiers: Jude Kim (Plantation, Fla.), 138
July 11
Luke Clanton, a member of the class of 2022, took medalist honors and one of only two qualifying spots at Kensington GC in Naples, Fla. Clanton had rounds of 73-67 for a 2-under total. Earlier this year, Clanton finished in the top 10 at the Western Junior and runner-up at the Dustin Johnson World Junior.
Interestingly, Clanton came close to advancing to the U.S. Amateur a year ago, only to lose in a playoff to Jack Nicklaus, who has since regained his professional status to play senior golf. .
Qualifiers: Luke Clanton (Miami Lakes, Fla.), 140; Jay Brooks (Boca Raton, Fla.), 141
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Mason Andersen
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Arizona State’s
Mason Andersen medaled at the qualifier at Whirlwind GC in Chandler, Ariz. Playing in his hometown, Andersen had the lowest score at the qualifying site by four shots.
Qualifiers: Mason Andersen (Chandler, Ariz.), 135; Caden Christopherson (Chandler, Ariz.), 139
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Mistwood GC, Romeoville, Ill.
Qualifiers: Charles Waddell (Chicago), 137; Daniel Anfield (Channahon, Ill.), 138; Henry Angier (Grasonville, Md.), 138
July 10
Wigwam Golf Resort (Gold Course), Litchfield Park, Ariz.
Qualifiers: Chaz Aurilia (Phoenix), 133; Trevor Werbylo (Tucson, Ariz.), 137
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Three more Massachusetts golfers punched their ticket to the U.S. Amateur on Wednesday at Andover Country Club in , increasing the number of Bay State golfers in next month’s Championship Proper field to nine. Medalist
Xavier Marcoux, of Concord, who fired a day-best 7-under 137 in the 36-hole qualifier, joins Andover’s
Brett Krekorian and Haverhill’s
Nick Maccario to complete Wednesday’s Bay State sweep. With their placement atop the leaderboard, all three competitors qualified for their first USGA Championship.
Marcoux took the top spot on the leaderboard with rounds of 69-68-137 while Krekorian fired a 5-under 139 after rounds of 71 and 68 respectively. Maccario, the reigning Massachusetts Four-Ball champion, shot a 68 in his morning round Wednesday and after carding an even-par 72 in his afternoon round, defeated California’s Spencer Soosman in a one-hole playoff to capture the final qualifying spot.
The 18-year old Marcoux, a recent graduate of Florida’s Montverde Academy, had missed qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and the U.S. Open sectional stage by one stroke apiece to date this year, and wasn’t going to let that happen a third time, as he tallied nine birdies over his two rounds to finish at 7-under 137, a two-stroke margin over the next closest competitor.
Reporting by Massachusetts Golf Association
Qualiifiers: Xavier Marcoux (Concord, Mass.), 137; Brett Krekorian (Andover, Mass.), 139; Nick Maccario (Haverhill, Mass.), 140
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A year ago at the U.S. Amateur,
Jesus Montenegro took down a giant in the first round of matches at Pebble Beach. The Jacksonville State player from Argentina defeated former World No. 1 amateur Braden Thornberry. Montenegro has again qualified for the U.S. Amateur by taking one of three available spots at Mission Inn Resort in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. Montenegro had a 2-under 142 total to finish second.
Qualifiers: John Driscoll (Lake Mary, Fla.), 138; Jesus Montenegro (Mar Del Plata, Argentina), 142; Shiryu (Leo) Oyo (San Diego, Calif.), 143
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Odessa (Texas) CC
Qualifiers: Kevin Pourasef (San Antonio), 138; Bryce Waters (Midland, Texas), 138
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Peter Kuest
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BYU frontman
Peter Kuest medaled at Bayonet & Black Horse Golf Course (Bayonet Course) in Seaside, Calif. A year ago at the U.S. Amateur, Kuest was one of the 24 men who played off for the final spot on the match-play bracket. Kuest actually advanced to a second playoff hole with Jacob Bergeron, only to lose with a triple bogey on Pebble Beach’s 18th.
Qualifiers: Peter Kuest (Fresno, Calif.), 136; Austin Fox (Folsom, Calif.), 140; Ryan Grauman (Alamo, Calif.), 141
July 9
University of Wyoming Jacoby GC, Laramie, Wyo.
Qualifiers: Jordan Costello (Pinedale, Wyo.), 134
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Evan Katz
| Michael Brennan
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Michael Brennan, winner of the Virginia Amateur last month, has qualified to play the U.S. Amateur. Brennan took one of four spots out of Hobbit’s Glen GC in Columbia, Md., with his 137 total. Duke player
Evan Katz was also among qualifiers.
Qualifiers: Ben Warnquist (Gaithersburg, Md.), 134; Evan Katz (Washington, D.C.), 136; Michael Brennan (Leesburg, Va.), 137; Elliott Grayson (Shelby, N.C.), 138
Fairview Farm GC, Harwinton, Ct.
Qualifiers: Nicklaus Harrington (Chaplin, Ct.), 136
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Ironwood GC, Normal, Ill.
Qualifiers: Rob Wuethrich (Bloomington, Ill.), 137; Case Englehart (Jackson, Mo.), 138
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Campestre de la Ciudad de Mexico
Qualifiers: Jose Dibildox (Mexico), 136; Andres Brictson De La Cruz (Mexico), 139
• • •
Chalk up another playing victory for college coaches. Vince Drahman, the assistant coach at IUPUI, has qualified for the U.S. Amateur. Drahman was medalist by one shot at Mendakota Country Club in Mendota Heights, Minn.
Qualifiers: Vince Drahman (Indianapolis, Ind.), 139; Ben Greve (Minneapolis, Minn.), 140; Parker Reddig (Minneapolis, Minn.), 140
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Pensacola (Fla.) CC)
Qualifiers: Zachary Zediker (Panama City, Fla.), 132; William Walker III (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), 134; Luis Gerardo Garza (Leon, Mexico), 136
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Brandon Mancheno
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Dogwood Invitational champion
Brandon Mancheno was co-medalist at the qualifier at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., near his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla. Mancheno, who plays for Auburn, went 7 under for 36 holes and tied with fellow Jacksonville native
Cody Carroll, who plays for North Florida, for medalist honors.
Qualifiers: Brandon Mancheno (Jacksonville, Fla.), 137; Cody Carroll (Jacksonville, Fla.) 137; Eugene Hong (Gainesville, Fla.), 138
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NorthStone Country Club, Huntersville, N.C.
Qualifiers: Jacob Bridgeman (Inman, S.C.), 134; Blake Wagoner (Cornelius, N.C.), 134; John Eades (Charlotte, N.C.), 136; Alex Heffner (Harrisburgn, N.C.), 137
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McCain Schellhardt, a rising senior at University of Missouri-Kansas City, medaled at the qualifier at Shoal Creek GC in Kansas City, Mo. The native of Edmond, Okla., who was second on the ‘Roo team in scoring this season, finished two shots ahead of Joe Bultman, a Shawnee, Kan., native who will play for Wichita State in the fall.
Qualifiers: McCain Schellhardt (Edmond, Okla.), 137; Joe Bultman (Shawnee, Kan.), 139
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Reunion G&CC, Madison, Miss.
Qualifiers: Cohen Trolio (West Point, Miss.), 134; Wilson Furr (Jackson, Miss.), 135
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James River CC, Newport News, Va.
Qualifiers: Carter Morgan (Tappahannock, Va.), 136; Patrick Stephenson (Four Oaks, N.C.), 136
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University of Wyoming Jacoby GC, Laramie, Wyo.
Qualifiers: Jordan Costello (Pinedale, Wyo.), 134
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July 8
Mendon GC, Rochester, N.Y.
Qualifiers: Julien Sale (Canada), 132; Will Thomson (Naples, Fla.), 139
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James Song
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James Song will follow his freshman season at Cal with a U.S. Amateur start. The Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., native all but locked up his spot with a morning round of 8-under 64 at Bakersfield (Calif.) CC that included five birdies and an eagle over the opening 11 holes. He followed with 71 for a 9-under 135 total that left him one shot ahead of the second and final qualifier,
Brian Stark.
Qualifiers: James Song (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.), 135; Brian Stark (Kingsburg, Calif.), 136)
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It was tight at the top at El Caballero CC in Tarzana, Calif., but there was a drop-off after the cut. Among the three California natives who advanced were co-medalists
Joseph Zambri (son of USC head men's golf coach Chris Zambri) and
Lincoln Melcher, who both had 3-under totals fo 139.
A few familiar faces came up just short, including many-time Los Angeles City champion Tim Hogarth, the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, and well-known Southern California mid-amateur Corby Segal. Hogarth, the second alternate, was four shots out of it and Segal was five.
Qualifiers: Joseph Zambri (Camarillo, Calif.), 139; Lincoln Melcher (Burbank, Calif.), 139; Nick Geyer (San Diego), 140)
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Rancho Murieta (Calif.) CC (North Course)
Qualifiers: Maximilian Morris (San Anselmo, Calif.), 139; Riley Bell (Yuba City, Calif.)
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Brett Viboch
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Brett Viboch, a quarterfinalist at the San Francisco City Amateur who finished T-2 at the Vallejo City Amateur earlier this year, has qualified for the U.S. Amateur. Viboch, a 35-year-old from Moraga, Calif., had rounds of 71-70 for a 3-under total that left him with the second and final spot at La Purisima GC in Lompoc, Calif.
Qualifiers: Zihao Jin (San Diego), 140; Brett Viboch (Moraga, Calif.), 141
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AJ Ott, a rising senior at Colorado State, was among the three men to qualify for the U.S. Amateur out of Fort Collins (Colo.) CC. Ott played the first nine at Fort Collins in a collective 6 under, but struggled with the back nine in both rounds. He played that side in 4 over, but his performance on the front was enough to carry him through.
Qualifiers: Calvin McCoy (Highlands Ranch, Colo)138; AJ Ott (Fort Collins, Colo.), 142; Daniel Martinez (Austin, Texas), 142
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Hunter Ostrom
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Notre Dame senior
Hunter Ostrom, who last month won the Southwestern Amateur, has qualified for the U.S. Amateur. Ostrom took the sole qualifying spot at the Club at SpurWing in Boise, Idaho with rounds of 68-64 for a 12-under total.
Qualifiers: Hunter Ostrom (Meridian, Idaho), 132)
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In the kind of hot and humid Louisiana weather you might expect in July,
Andy Lopez and
Charlie Flynn prevailed for a spot at Pinehurst. Lopez, of Dallas, went 7 under to take medalist honors at Bayou Oaks at City Park (South Couse) in New Orleans. Flynn, however, survived a playoff with Logan Kuehn after both finished at 6 under.
Qualifiers: Andy Lopez (Dallas), 137; Charlie Flynn (Alexandria, La.), 138)
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One year ago,
Steven DiLisio advanced to the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, the first such USGA championship for the Duke golfer. After a stellar junior season in Durham and a great start to the summer, DiLisio punched his ticket for the second straight time. With rounds of 66-67-133 at Long Meadow (Mass.) CC, the 21-year old took the top spot on the leaderboard to earn medalist honors.
Fellow Bay Stater
Jacob Zaranek, of South Deerfield, earned the second of two spots to the U.S. Amateur at the Longmeadow qualifying site after firing a 6-under 134 over 36 holes, including a second-round 5-under 65.
Qualifiers: Steven DiLisio (Swampscott, Mass.), 133; Jacob Zaranek (South Deerfield, Mass.), 134
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Oakland Unviersity G&LC, Rochester, Mich.
Qualifiers: Henry Do (Canton, Mich.), 140; Grant Haefner (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 140
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Fargo (N.D.) CC
Qualifiers: Colwyn Abgrall (Canada), 143; Josh Persons (Fargo, N.D.), 143
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Daniel Griffiths of Binghamton, N.Y., and Colin McGaugh of Hamilton, N.Y., finished at 3-under 141 to earn co-medalist honors in the qualifier at Seven Oaks GC in Hamilton, NY. Both players will make their first appearance at the U.S. Amateur after trying to qualify multiple times.
McGaugh led the field at 3 under after the first 18 holes.
“My driver was great. I made the putts I needed to. It kept me in there and kept me confident.”
Griffiths explained the challenges of adjusting to play after college.
“I probably haven’t played a tournament since my last college season, so I didn’t know what to expect. I went out there and everything was really feeling good for me,” he said.
Qualifiers: Daniel Griffiths (Binghamton, N.Y.), 141; Colin McGaugh (Hamilton, N.Y.), 141
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Hackberry Creek CC, Irving, Texas
Qualifiers: Mark Reppe (Dallas), 133; Ben Constancio (Pflugerville, Texas), 136
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A week ago,
Connor Schmidt wound up with the Western Pennsylvania Amateur trophy at Oakmont Country Club after leader Mark Goetz made a quadruple bogey on the 18th hole. Schmidt had played bogey-free in that final round to set himself for the victory. Now, Schmidt is headed to Pinehurst.
Only one qualifying spot was available at Edgewood Country Club in Sissonville, W.Va., and Schmidt took it. In fact, no one else even came close. Once again, Schmidt went bogey free for not one round but two rounds. He also three in an eagle at No. 16 in the morning round. After back-to-back rounds of 64, Schmidt was 14 under and seven shots ahead of the next-closest players.
Qualifiers: Connor Schmidt (Venetia, Pa.), 128
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Manasquan River GC, Brielle, N.J.
Qualifiers: Dawson Jones (Howell, N.J.), 140; Ethan Wall (Brielle, N.J.), 141
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Davis Chatfield
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Davis Chatfield, a rising junior on the University of Notre Dame’s men’s golf team, shot a 7-under 133 in 36 holes at Metacomet Country Club in East Providence, R.I., to earn medalist honors while
Christian Emmerich, who is slated to play golf for the College of the Holy Cross beginning this fall, combined a 3-under 67 in the afternoon with a morning round of 2-under 68 to finish at 5-under 135. With that mark, Emmerich punched his ticket to his first U.S. Amateur Championship.
Qualifiers: Davis Chatfield (Attleboro, Mass.), 133; Etienne Brault (Mercier, Canada), 134; Christian Emmerich (Swampscott, Mass.), 135
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Carson Bacha of York, Pa., and
Ryan Smith of Carlsbad, Calif., posted matching 5-under 139s to grab the only two qualifying spots available at the qualifier at West Shore CC in Camp Hill, Penn. The U.S. Amateur qualifier, a 36-hole one-day event, extended into a second day after significant rainfall caused a five-hour delay Monday. Round One wrapped up at 7:30 p.m.
In addition to sharing medalist honors, Bacha and Smith both relied on caddie reassurance to persevere at West Shore. And get this: Their respective caddies, coincidentally, are brothers of their respective swing coaches. And get this: They’re both named Mike – Mike Carazo for Bacha, Mike Maguire for Smith.
Write-up courtesy of GAP
Qualifiers: Ryan Smith (Carlsbad, Calif.), 139; Carson Bacha (York, Pa.), 139
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Whippoorwill Club, Armonk, N.Y.
Qualifiers: Zachary Ong (Singapore), 133; Darren Lin (Chino Hills, Calif.), 136; Josh Goldenberg (Scarsdale, N.Y.)
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James Nicholas, the recent Yale graduate in Biology pre-med, was medalist at Hackensack GC in Oradell, N.J. Nicholas, who finished third at the Sunnehanna Amateur last month, has plans to go professional later this fall, and will enter European Tour Qualifying School after the U.S. Am.
Qualifiers: James Nicholas (Scarsdale, N.Y.), 137; Sam Goldenring (Florham Park, N.J.), 138
July 1
Columbine CC, Columbine Valley, Colo.
Qualifiers: Hayden Springer (Trophy Club, Texas), 134; Colin Prater (Colorado Springs, Colo.) 136; Andy Spencer (Leawood, Kan.), 138
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Egypt Valley CC, Ada, Mich.
Qualifiers: Travis McInroe (McKinney, Texas), 140; Michael Sass (Louisville, Ky.), 141