Range Notes: 61s and burgers at the US Amateur

LOS ANGELES, Calif (Aug. 13, 2017) -- Doug Ghim came to his fourth (and probably last) US Amateur looking to make a statement to set his place on the Walker Cup team. He did just that in his first practice round at Bel-Air CC. He was standing over a 6-foot slider on the 9th green, when his playing partner asked how many pars he had today. One. How many bogeys. None. “So this putt is for 28 huh?” After nailing the 6-footer, he finished his front nine with a 8 under 28! Three more birdies on the back nine would tie the course record at 61. After his round Ghim said he now knows “its possible, the birdies are there." Dawson Armstrong was also feeling good on the range with his younger brother, Davis, on the bag this week. He said he will be looking to go low at Bel Air early tomorrow morning. Scottie Scheffler and his lucky caddie Callie, his older sister who caddied for him at the 2017 US Open, were on the range enjoying their time together. The biggest hit of the practice round weekend? Free "In n Out Burger" truck on the range for all of the players. I’m not sure if the USGA has caught up with the latest health crazes, but they definitely know how to give the players what they want. Aside from the non west coasters trying to compare it to other burger joints, everyone in line was enjoying themselves. While everyone in the media room was checking in on the PGA Championship, a true amateur golf fan, Pete Kowalski of the USGA, made sure that the Women’s Amateur was also on.