U.S. Amateur Walker Cup update

BROOKLINE, Mass. (Aug. 14, 2013) -- With just a few days remaining before the announcement of the final Walker Cup selections, the pressure is on for those under consideration. Here’s a snapshot of how some of the names being talked about for one of the remaining U.S. Walker Cup roster spots fared through stroke-play qualifying and the first round of match play at the U.S. Amateur:

Michael Weaver: The runner up at last year’s U.S. Amateur, Weaver reached match play but fell to Greg Eason, 3- and-2, in first-round action. Still, Weaver’s consistent play since last year has to be a factor. He recently won the William C. Campbell Award, which goes to the lowest aggregate score from the Porter Cup, The Players Amateur and the Northeast Amateur.

Sean Dale: Dale played his way back into contention last week at the Western Amateur, falling in the final match to Jordan Niebrugge. Winner of the Jones Cup in February, the recent North Florida graduate lost 3-and-2 to two-time Walker Cup selection Patrick Rodgers in the Round of 64.

Jordan Niebrugge: Niebrugge entered the U.S. Amateur as the hottest player in the world, having won, in succession, the U.S. Public Links, the Wisconsin State Amateur and the Western Amateur. And, despite losing in 18 holes to Georgia Tech’s Seth Reeves, Niebrugge remains one of three serious contenders for the final spots.

Michael Miller: Miller was a contender earlier in the year but might very well get back into it at the most perfect of times. A former golfer at Pennsylvania State University, Miller took the No. 6 seed thanks to terrific play in the qualifying rounds. To have a shot, he’d need to make a deep run this week.

Brandon Hagy: Hagy turned heads last year, reaching the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur. After a stellar NCAA season at Cal, the long hitter hasn’t won this summer but has played well. A deep run this week could seal it for him. Hagy was a winner in extra holes Wednesday in the Round of 64.

Bobby Wyatt: Another potential Walker Cup selection from NCAA Champion Alabama, Wyatt rolled through his first-round match. A deep run puts him right in the thick of things in the eyes of the Walker Cup selection comittee.

Mike McCoy: One of just a few mid-amateurs in the event, McCoy missed match play. With that said, Walker Cup captain Jim Holtgrieve was impressed with the Iowa native’s decision to play in some of the season’s top events in hopes of qualifying, as well as his ability to play well in those events.

Nathan Smith: A two- time Walker Cup selection and four-time U.S. Mid- Amateur champion, Smith is a likely mid- amateur selection. He missed match play, though, at the U.S. Amateur.