Jackson Van Paris takes the 36-hole lead at the Sunnehanna Amateur
June 15, 2023 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff
see also: Jackson Van Paris, View results for Sunnehanna Amateur, Sunnehanna Country Club
The Vanderbilt golfer fires 61, just one shot higher than the course and tournament record
by Mike Dudurich, for AmateurGolf.com
The pins might be tucked in the most evil places on the greens, which are rolling just this side of the speed limit.
The rough at Sunnehanna Country Club is a crap shoot, good lies can be gotten on wayward tee shots, but can also leave a player stymied. And, of course, there are the stories that make up the history of the course and the Sunnehanna Amateur.
Thursday morning, a pair of youngsters grabbed some early attention. Maxwell Ford and Lewis Riley, went crazy on the scoreboard, posting a pair of 63s to get cozy with the lead.
And just when the idea of a 63 being shot started settle, boom! Out of nowhere -- actually Pinehurst, N.C. -- came a young man named Jackson Van Paris, who put up a, gulp, 61.
Believe it or not, Van Paris’ round is neither the course or tournament record.
That distinction belongs to Zachary Bauchou, who posted a 60 in the 2017 Sunnehanna Amateur.
As previously noted, the famed club did not blow up as play continued, but it did give the rest of the field notice that birdies were out there to be had. They weren’t being given away, however, they had to be earned.
Van Paris’ Thursday round was even more remarkable because he opened with a 71 on Wednesday.
“I knew there was 54 holes left,” he said. “I just tried to take one hole at a time, one step at a time, staying in the moment.”
His moments Thursday were consumed by making birdies. He made nine, count ‘em, nine with no bogeys.
“It was a special day, no doubt,” Van Paris said. “I’ve been told about the great rounds and great scores that have taken place here. I’m honored to be included in that group.”
Van Paris has been playing high-level golf since a young age. He is a four-time Rolex Junior All-American, who, at age 14, became the youngest player to win a match at the U.S. Amateur since Bobby Jones in 1916.
As the second round ended, a real shootout is in play for Friday and Saturday.
Right behind Van Paris is Yuki Moriyama (68-65). Then came Ford and Riley.
Ford, a member of the University of Georgia golf team, had six birdies, an eagle and a single bogey on the way to his 63. Five of those birdies came during a back-9 30.
“Obviously I had really good back 9,” said Ford, who stood during the entirety of an interview because of a lingering bad back. “I hit my wedges close, made some putts and didn’t let the bad shots I hit into bother me.”
After that, it’s chaos.
Seven players are tied at 134, 6-under par.
Defending champion Bryce Lewis is in at 2-under par and is 8 shots out of the lead.
The Friday forecast is not favorable for much outdoor activity, including golf. Showers and thunderstorms have an 80 percent chance of dominating the day. The first group is scheduled to be off the first tee at 7 a.m.
The pins might be tucked in the most evil places on the greens, which are rolling just this side of the speed limit.
The rough at Sunnehanna Country Club is a crap shoot, good lies can be gotten on wayward tee shots, but can also leave a player stymied. And, of course, there are the stories that make up the history of the course and the Sunnehanna Amateur.
Thursday morning, a pair of youngsters grabbed some early attention. Maxwell Ford and Lewis Riley, went crazy on the scoreboard, posting a pair of 63s to get cozy with the lead.
And just when the idea of a 63 being shot started settle, boom! Out of nowhere -- actually Pinehurst, N.C. -- came a young man named Jackson Van Paris, who put up a, gulp, 61.
Believe it or not, Van Paris’ round is neither the course or tournament record.
That distinction belongs to Zachary Bauchou, who posted a 60 in the 2017 Sunnehanna Amateur.
As previously noted, the famed club did not blow up as play continued, but it did give the rest of the field notice that birdies were out there to be had. They weren’t being given away, however, they had to be earned.
Van Paris’ Thursday round was even more remarkable because he opened with a 71 on Wednesday.
“I knew there was 54 holes left,” he said. “I just tried to take one hole at a time, one step at a time, staying in the moment.”
“It was a special day, no doubt,” Van Paris said. “I’ve been told about the great rounds and great scores that have taken place here. I’m honored to be included in that group.”
Van Paris has been playing high-level golf since a young age. He is a four-time Rolex Junior All-American, who, at age 14, became the youngest player to win a match at the U.S. Amateur since Bobby Jones in 1916.
As the second round ended, a real shootout is in play for Friday and Saturday.
Right behind Van Paris is Yuki Moriyama (68-65). Then came Ford and Riley.
Ford, a member of the University of Georgia golf team, had six birdies, an eagle and a single bogey on the way to his 63. Five of those birdies came during a back-9 30.
“Obviously I had really good back 9,” said Ford, who stood during the entirety of an interview because of a lingering bad back. “I hit my wedges close, made some putts and didn’t let the bad shots I hit into bother me.”
After that, it’s chaos.
Seven players are tied at 134, 6-under par.
Defending champion Bryce Lewis is in at 2-under par and is 8 shots out of the lead.
The Friday forecast is not favorable for much outdoor activity, including golf. Showers and thunderstorms have an 80 percent chance of dominating the day. The first group is scheduled to be off the first tee at 7 a.m.
Results: Sunnehanna Amateur
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pinehurst, NC | 1200 | 71-61-68-67=267 | |
| 2 | Pittsburgh, PA | 900 | 68-68-66-66=268 | |
| 3 | Pearland, TX | 700 | 65-69-72-63=269 | |
| T4 | Miami Lakes, FL | 700 | 69-66-67-68=270 | |
| T4 | , Norway | 700 | 64-71-67-68=270 |
About the Sunnehanna Amateur
First played in July 1954, the Sunnehanna Amateur holds a distinguished place in golf history as the first country club-sponsored 72-hole medal (stroke) play event for amateurs in the United States. Its groundbreaking format helped set the standard f...
Most Popular Articles
FINAL RESULTS: 2026 Australian Men’s Amateur Championship
Feb 6, 2026Billy Dowling pulled away with a closing 7-under 63 to win the 2026 adidas Australian Men’s Amateur Championship at 18-under.
Yunseo Yang Wins Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific at Royal Wellington Golf Club
Feb 15, 2026Yunseo Yang makes history as Korea’s first WAAP champion, earning major exemptions with a dominant win.
U.S. Open Qualifying 2026: Local & Final Qualifying Sites for Shinnecock
Feb 19, 2026The road to Shinnecock Hills begins in April as 110 local qualifying sites and 13 final qualifying venues are set.
FINAL RESULTS: Gasparilla Invitational 2026
Feb 21, 2026Hayes Brown wins Gasparilla at 2-under, edging Peyton White by one, while Jeff Frazier claims the Senior title at Palma Ceia.
2026 Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase Canceled Due to Heavy Rain at Riviera
Feb 16, 2026Heavy rain forced cancellation of the 2026 Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase at Riviera Country Club on Feb. 16.