Parziale First Mid-Am to Make U.S. Open Cut Since 2003

SOUTHAMPTON, NY (June 15, 2018) - The city of Brockton, Mass., is known for its fighters, and now its firefighter. Matt Parziale, 31, a full-time firefighter who is the reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, became the first mid-amateur (25 and older) to make the cut in the U.S. Open since Trip Kuehne in 2003. Parziale hails from Brockton, a blue-collar town best known for producing boxing champions Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler.

Related: AmateurGolf.com Feature Interview: Matt Parziale

On Friday at Shinnecock Hills, Parziale rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to secure a weekend starting time among the game’s best, posting a 36-hole total of 7-over 147. Last fall, the USGA announced that the winners of the U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur would be exempt into the following year’s U.S. Open. Parziale became the first Mid-Am champion to be awarded the exemption.

“Golf’s hard,” said Parziale. “I mean, this game is crazy. I’m happy with the way I played and looking forward to competing this weekend.”

Somebody call 9-1-1. Parziale burning on the dance floor. The 👨‍🚒 and reigning #USMidAm champion from Brockton, Mass., birdies 18 to finish 7 under! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/XoIcAmXnmI

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2018

Parziale is among a group of three amateurs to make the cut and compete for the low amateur medal. Rising Ohio State senior Will Grimmer (Cincinnati, OH), playing in his second U.S. Open, leads the amateurs at 5 over par after rounds of 73-72. LSU rising senior Luis Gagne of Costa Rica is tied with Parziale at 7 over with rounds of 73-74.

Amateur Leaderboard

T26 73-72 (+5) Will Grimmer
T45 74-73 (+7) Matt Parziale
T45 73-74 (+7) Luis Gagne
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MC 76-73 (+9) Braden Thornberry
MC 78-72 (+10) Tyer Strafaci
MC 79-74 (+13) Doug Ghim
MC 80-74 (+14) Rhett Rasmussen
MC 81-74 (+15) Stewart Hagestad
MC 84-72 (+16) Theo Humphrey
MC 81-75 (+16) Jacob Bergeron
MC 76-81 (+17) Chun An Yu
MC 82-76 (+18) Ryan Lumsden
MC 82-76 (+18) Franklin Huang
MC 83-75 (+18) Timothy Wiseman
MC 83-75 (+18) Garrett Rank
MC 81-77 (+18) Kristoffer Reitan
MC 81-78 (+19) Noah Goodwin
MC 80-79 (+19) Harry Ellis
MC 81-78 (+19) Shintaro Ban
MC 82-79 (+21) Philip Barbaree