U.S. Amateur Championship – 2023 Preview & Results

Posted on 09/08/2023 by Golf Bible

Sunday 20th August 2023

Nick DUNLAP (USA), 19, has won the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship beating Neal SHIPLEY (USA) by 4&3 in the 36-hole Final at Cherry Hills G.C.

Nick Dunlap with the Haveymeyer Trophy (Photo: USGA)

The match was All-Square at lunch after both players shot 5-under 65’s neither showing any signs of Championship nerves.

Dunlap pulled away on the front nine in the afternoon shooting a 5-under 30. Biridies on the 21st, 22nd and a winning par on the 25th proved to be the pivotal holes. He comfortably saw the game out over the final nine holes.

It was some turnaround for Dunlap who made a near disastrous start to the stroke play qualifying last Monday at Colorado C.C. where he found himself 5-over after seven holes. Eventually he sorted himself out and qualified for the match play in 41st place.

Dunlap, who had already been selected by the USGA for the USA Walker Cup team, extended his outstanding match play record since Spring 2021 to Played 32, Won 30, Lost 2.

He became only the second player to win both the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur Championships, following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods. Of course Woods amazingly won each Championship three times in six consecutive years between 1991-96.

Dunlap said “This is why I practice. This is why I get up early, just for moments like this. The first tee when they announce your name to the last green whether you win or lose, it’s special just to be a part of the United States Amateur and what it stands for.”

Shipley was gracious in defeat “Nick played great, and he just made a lot of putts on me this afternoon. That’s what it takes to win these things. He has what it takes, obviously, and I just didn’t play my best. I got out-dueled today.”

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MP Final Hole-By-Hole Results (Graphic: USGA)

Dunlap is a rising sophomore at the University of Alabama whilst Shipley is a graduate student at Ohio State University having transferred to Ohio from James Madison University last year.

Both finalists earned spots in the 2024 Masters Tournament at Augusta National and 2024 U.S. Open Championship which will be played at Pinehurst Resort. In addition Dunlap will also receive an exemption into The Open Championship at Royal Troon, subject to remaining an amateur.

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Results

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Saturday 19th August 2023

Nick DUNLAP, 19, beat Parker BELL, 19, by 3&2 whilst Neal SHIPLEY, 22, overcame John MARSHALL BUTLER, 21, by 2 &1 in the Semi-Finals of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Cherry Hills C.C.

Shipley was 3Down after 10 holes to Butler before fighting back superbly to win with a conceded birdie on the 17th after his approach finished inches away from the island green hole.

Bell and Butler earn exemptions into the the next two U.S. Amateur Championships.

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MP Semi-Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoreboard

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Friday 18th August 2023

USA foursome Nick DUNLAP, 19 and WAGR ranked #9, Parker BELL, 19 and ranked #534, Neal SHIPLEY, 22 and ranked #132 and John MARSHALL BUTLER, 21 and ranked #51, all came through tightly contested Quarter Finals in Denver.

Nick Dunlap has already been selected for the 2023 USA Walker Cup Team but the other three, who were not in the picture before this week, have that carrot now well and truly in front of them.

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MP Quarter Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoreboard

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Thursday 17th August 2023

Match Play – Round of 16

The Round of 16 games in the 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship started at 2.00pm MDT (9.00pm BST) at Cherry Hills C.C. Due to darkness the final game in the series had to be completed on Friday morning.

Ten of the 16 players to make it this far were qualifiers with the remainder picking up exemptions from the USGA.

Ben JAMES’ (USA) victory over David FORD (USA) was the most noteworthy and has greatly increased his chances of making this year’s USA Walker Cup team.

Neal SHIPLEY (USA) and Andi XU (CHN) conquerors of Calum Scott and Matt McClean in previous rounds, also overcame another hurdle in the afternoon.

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MP Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoreboard

Match Play – Round of 32

Calum SCOTT (SCO) lost on the 20th Hole to Neal SHIPLEY (USA) thus ending GB&I interest in this year’s Championship. This game again demonstrated the narrow margins involved in top class match play golf.

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Calum Scott v. Neal Shipley MP Round of 32 Hole-by-Hole Scores (Graphic: USGA)

The three co-medalists Blades BROWN (USA),16, Sampson ZHENG (CHN), 22, and Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), 21, all lost in the Round of 32.

Andi XU (CHN) and Jose ISLAS (MEX) are now the only non-American players left in the Championship.

Here are the complete Round of 32 results from Cherry Hills C.C.: –

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MP Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoreboard

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Wednesday 16th August 2023

Match Play – Round of 64

Calum SCOTT (SCO) birdied the final two holes to get the better of Bastien AMAT (FRA) by 2 Holes in what was clearly a high quality and very competitive match.

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Calum Scott v. Bastien Amat MP Round of 64 Hole-by-Hole Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Scott is now the last GB&I man standing as Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) fell by 1 Hole to China’s Andi XU in his Round of 64 game.

Calum will be one of just six overseas players left in the Championship heading into the Round of 32.

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Andi Xu v. Matt McClean MP Round of 64 Hole-by-Hole Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Co-medalists Blades BROWN (USA),16, Sampson ZHENG (CHN), 22, and Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), 21, all safely negotiated their first round matches.

In the ‘game of the round’ between two 2023 USA Walker Cup players from Alabama Nick DUNLAP (USA), 19, beat big hitting World No. 1 Gordon SARGENT (USA), 20, by 2&1.

Luke CLANTON (USA), Jackson VAN PARIS (USA), Karl VILIPS (AUS), who was ‘celebrating’ his 22nd birthday, Maxwell MOLDOVAN (USA), Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) and Dylan MENANTE (USA) joined Sargent amongst the higher profile casualties on Day 1 of the Match Play Stage.

Grant SMITH (USA), 28, is now the only mid-amateur remaining in the Championship after he beat Piercen HUNT (CAN) by 1 Hole.

14 of the 32 matches went to the 18th hole with three of them requiring extra holes too.

Here are the complete Round of 64 results from Cherry Hills C.C.: –

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MP Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoreboard

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Tuesday 15th August 2023

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 2

Calum SCOTT (SCO), 19, was GB&I’s leading qualifier after he produced a round of 68 (-4) at Colorado G.C. which included three consecutive birdies on his back nine. His 139 (-4) total was good enough for a tied 10th finish and the 15th seed.

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL), 30, joined Calum in the MP Stage. His 143 (Ev) total saw the Northern Irishman finish in tied 50th place, taking the 58th seed.

The other GB&I competitors missed the cut by some distance. Barclay BROWN (ENG) bounced back well with a 70 (-2) at Colorado but still finished Qualifying outside the top 100.

GB&I SP Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

16 year old Blades BROWN (USA) became the youngest co-medalist in Championship history after a course record sharing 64 (-8) at Colorado G.C. helped him to secure the Number 1 seeding.

Sampson ZHENG (CHN), 22, and Jackson BUCHANAN (USA), 21, shared medalist honours on 136 (-7) with all three receiving silver medals in recognition of their achievements.

Piercen HUNT (USA), Maxwell FORD (USA), Caleb SURRATT (USA) and Andi XU (CHN) finished one stroke further back on 137 (-6).

As expected the cut fell at 143 (Ev) with the USGA no doubt pleased to see a clean 64 achieve this mark. The Even par match play cut was the joint lowest ever and it was the first time since 2000 that no play-off has been required to finalise the match play field.

The average Round 2 scores were 75.25, +4.25 (Rd 1 75.55, +4.55) at Cherry Hills C.C. and 73.75, +1.75 (Rd 1 75.26, +3.26) at Colorado G.C.

GB&I SP Qualifying Top 10 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Leaderboard

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Monday 14th August 2023

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1

Despite finishing bogey-double bogey on the 8th and 9th holes at Cherry Hills Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) still posted a 71 (-2) in his opening Stroke Play Qualifying round to finish the day in tied 15th place.

Calum SCOTT (SCO) recorded a 71 (Ev) at Cherry Hills to sit tied 45th; a solid foundation to work from tomorrow.

The remaining six GB&I players will require something special to feature in the Match Play Stage after disappointing rounds.

Sampson ZHENG (CHN) leads Qualifying after a 66 (-6) at Colorado G.C. Ben JAMES (USA) and Riggs JOHNSTON (-5) were both one shot shy of him at the same course on Day 1.

After 18 holes 44 players are on -1 or better and 74 players are on Ev par or better which suggests tomorrow’s top 64 cut will fall on par (143) if playing conditions remain broadly the same.

The average Round 1 scores, taking into account the play of all 312 competitors, were 75.55, +4.55 at Cherry Hills C.C. and 75.26, +3.26 at Colorado G.C.

GB&I SP Qualifying Round 1 Scores / Round 2 Tee Times (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Leaderboard

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11th August 2023

Here are the Stroke Play Qualifying tee times (MDT) for the eight GB&I players who are competing: –

Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) – 7.55am (10-CH) / 1.25pm (1-CGC)
Barclay BROWN (ENG) – 1.03pm (10-CH) / 7.33am (1-CGC)
John GOUGH (ENG) – 1.03pm (10-CH) / 7.33am (1-CGC)
Hugh FOLEY (IRL) – 1.25pm (1-CH) / 7.55am (10-CGC)
Jonathan BALE (WAL) – 1.58pm (10-CH) / 8.28am (1-CGC)
Conor GOUGH (ENG) – 1.58pm (10-CGC) / 8.28am (1-CH)
Mark POWER (IRL) – 1.58pm (10-CGC) / 8.28am (1-CH)
Calum SCOTT (SCO) – 2.20pm (10-CH) / 8.50am (1-CGC)

CH – Cherry Hills G.C. / CGC – Colorado Golf Club

Denver is seven hours behind Great Britain & Ireland.

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying Tee Times

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9th August 2023 (Updated 11th August 2023)

Introduction

The 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship is being played at Cherry Hills Country Club and Colorado Golf Club, near Denver in Colorado.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious individual competition in the amateur golf calendar.

I will be updating this article with more information as it becomes available and daily reports once play gets underway.

2023 Field

8,253 entries, a record, were received by the USGA for this year’s Championship.

312 players, who were either exempt or who came through pre-qualifying, from 23 different countries will be competing.

Exemptions were granted based on past performances in previous amateur championships, selection for the Walker Cup teams and World Amateur Golf Rankings.

91 qualifying events, all played over 36 holes, were staged between 26th June and 25th July to make up the rest of the field. Click here to view all of the – 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifying Results.

The youngest player is Sohan Patel (USA) who is 14 years old and the oldest Gene Elliott (USA) who is 61.

The USGA has already selected Nick DUNLAP 19, David FORD 20, Gordon SARGENT 20, Caleb SURRATT 19 and Michael THORBJORNSEN* 21 to it’s 2023 USA Walker Cup team and all of them are playing in the Championship. The remainder of the USA team will be announced after the Final is completed on Sunday.

*On 9th August 2023 Thorbjornsen withdrew from the U.S. Amateur and the forthcoming Walker Cup match with a stress fracture in his back.

Christo LAMPRECHT (RSA), the Amateur champion, is not competing this week. He has recently undergone eye surgery and is recuperating at home in South Africa.

There are eight Great British & Irish (GB&I) players in the 2023 field. They are: –

Jonathan BALE (WAL) 35 – Qualifier: Rose Creek G.C., Oklahoma on 17th July 2023
Barclay BROWN (ENG) 22 – Exemption: U.S. Open 2023 / Walker Cup GB&I Team 2021 / WAGR Top 50 on 14th June 2023
Conor GOUGH (ENG) 20 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2019
John GOUGH (ENG) 24 – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 on 14th June 2023
Hugh FOLEY (IRL) 26 – Exemption: U.S. Mid-Amateur Runner-Up 2022
Matt MCCLEAN (IRL) 30 – Exemption: U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion 2022
Mark POWER (IRL) 23 – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team 2021
Calum SCOTT (SCO) 19 – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 on 14th June 2023

There were 9 GB&I players at Ridgewood last year, 5 at Oakmont in 2021, 11 at Bandon Dunes in 2020, 11 at Pinehurst in 2019, 7 at Pebble Beach in 2018, 9 at Riviera in 2017 and 11 at Oakland Hills in 2016.

Format / Schedule

36-holes of stroke play (SP) will determine the top 64 match play (MP) qualifiers. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

Six 18 hole MP rounds will then be played culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

Monday 14th August – SP Qualifying Round 1 (Cherry Hills and Colorado – 18 holes)
Tuesday 15th August – SP Qualifying Round 2 (Cherry Hills and Colorado – 18 holes)
Wednesday 16th August – SP Qualifying Play-Off / MP Round of 64 (Cherry Hills – 18 holes)
Thursday 17th August – MP Rounds of 32 and 16 (Cherry Hills – 18 holes)
Friday 18th August – MP Quarter Finals (Cherry Hills – 18 holes )
Saturday 19th August – MP Semi-Finals (Cherry Hills – 18 holes)
Sunday 20th August – MP Championship Final (Cherry Hills – 36 holes)

Host Courses

Both courses, which are 23 miles apart, are located South of Denver, the state capital of Colorado.

Cherry Hills Country Club – stroke play and match play
7,405 yards (Red) / Par 71 / Course Rating 75.5 / Slope Rating 145.
Located in Cherry Hills Village it opened in 1923.
Originally deisgned by William Flynn it was restored by Tom Oak and his Renaissance Golf Design team over 10 years from 2008.
It has previously hosted the U.S. Open Championship in 1938 (Ralph Guildhall), 1960 (Arnold Palmer) and 1978 (Andy North), the PGA Championship in 1941 (Vic Ghezzi) and 1985 (Hubert Green), the U.S. Women’s Open Championship in 2005 (Birdie Kim), the U.S. Senior Open Championship in 1993 (Jack Nicklaus). the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1990 (Phil Mickelson) and 2012 (Steven Fox) and the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 1983 (Jay Sigel).

17th Hole, Cherry Hills C.C. (Photo: Cherry Hills / Brian Walters)

Colorado Golf Club – stroke play co-host
7,560 yards (Black) / Par 72 / Course Rating 76.5 / Slope Rating 152.
Located in Parker it opened in 2007.
Designed by Bill Moore and Ben Crenshaw.
It has already hosted the Senior PGA Championship in 2010 (Tom Lehman), the Solheim Cup in 2013 (Europe) and the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in 2019 (Lukas Michel).

16th Hole, Colorado G.C. (Photo: USGA / Russell Kirk)

Weather Forecast (as at 14th August 2023)

The weather forecast looks ideal for the whole Championship week with sunny conditions and light breezes expected.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 14th August – Sunny / Wind 8mph NE / Temp. Min. 14°C, Max. 26°C.
Tues 15th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 8mph NE / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 32°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 16th August – Sunny / Wind 9mph W / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 34°C.
Thurs 17th August – Sunny / Wind 9mph SE / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 34°C.
Fri 18th August – Sunny / Wind 11mph W / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 34°C.
Sat 19th August – Sunny, PM Showers / Wind 7mph NE / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 32°C.
Sun 20th August – Sunny / Wind 11mph E / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 32°C.

Prizes

The 2023 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;
b) An exemption to play in the 2024 U.S. Open which is being staged at Pinehurst Resort No. 2 in North Carolina;

and assuming they remain amateur,
c) An invitation to play in the 2024 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;
d) An exemption to play in the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club;
e) An exemption to play in the 2024 – 2033 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

f) Various invitations to play in PGA Tour and DP World Tour events.

If the champion is American they are also guaranteed a place on the 2023 USA Walker Cup Team that will travel to St. Andrews for the match against Great Britain & Ireland in September.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists.

A Silver Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

The original silver Havemeyer Trophy was presented to the U.S.G.A. on March 1895 in honour of the Association’s first President Theodore A. Havemeyer. This was lost in a fire at Bobby Jones’ home club, East Lake, in 1925.

Bobby Jones Receives the Original U.S. Amateur Trophy in 1924

A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since. Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the U.S.G.A. Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.

US Amateur Information

Click here to view the – USGA’S U.S. Amateur Championship Official Website

Spectators / Television Coverage

Some highlights of the SP Qualifying will be shown on the USGA website and social media channels.

In the USA Peacock and Golf Channel will be covering the MP stage.

In the UK Sky Sports Golf normally takes the U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

2022 U.S. Amateur Championship

Sam BENNETT (USA), 22, beat Ben CARR (USA), also 22, by 1-Hole in the 36-hole Final of the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship at The Ridgewood Country Club.

Bennett, who returned to Texas A&M University for a 5th Year in 2022/23 before turning pro in May, said: “It’s a dream come true. It means a lot to hold that trophy. I’m sure I’ll take a peek at all the names, but I know Tiger Woods’ name is on it three times, and to put my name beside him, I know it’s something special.” said the new champion afterwards.

Sam Bennett With The Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: USGA / Grant Halverson)

Sam BENNETT (USA) beat Dylan MENANTE (USA) by 1 Hole in the opening Semi-Final whilst Ben CARR (USA) overcame Derek HITCHNER (USA) by 3&2 in the other.

Three GB&I players, Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) #44, Josh HILL (ENG) #35 and Mark POWER (IRL) #11, qualified for the MP Stage but sadly all fell at the first hurdle, the Round of 64. Bairstow lost 3&1 to Stewart HAGESTAD (USA) #21, Hill lost 2&1 Campbell KREMER (USA) #30 and Power lost 3&2 to Walker ISLEY (USA) #54.

The SP Qualifying concluded with 68 of the 312 competitors still involved in the Championship. 53 players on +4 and better secured their spots directly in the Round of 64 MP draw. The remaining 15, who all finished with +5 totals, needed to participate in a play-off to determine who would take the final 11 places. Walker Isley was one of the successful players.

Fred BIONDI (BRA), Luke GUTSCHEWSKI (USA), Hugo TOWNSEND (SWE) and Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA), who double bogeyed his final hole, shared medalist honours after recording 36-hole scores of 138 (-3). 2022 is the first time the Championship has produced four co-medalists.

Hugo Townsend, who was born in Ireland and now resides in and represents Sweden, is the son of the 1965 GB&I Walker Cup player Peter Townsend.

Michael Thorbjornsen, Hugo Townsend, Fred Biondi and Luke Gutschewski (Photo: USGA)

Gordon SARGENT (USA) produced the best round of the SP Qualifying competition in Round 2, a bogey free 65 (-5) at Arcola Country Club, to take the 5th seed.

Mark POWER (IRL), who was the leading GB&I player, finished his second round 68 with an eagle to secure an impressive top 10 result.

Power was joined by Englishmen Josh HILL (+3) and Sam BAIRSTOW (+4) in the MP Stage after both produced good second rounds to comfortably make the mark.

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GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Qualifying and Match Play Results

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2023 will see its 123rd playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Former U.S. winners include Walter Travis (1900-01-03), Jerome Travers (1907-08-12-13), Bobby Jones (1924-25-27-28-30), Francis Ouimet (1914-31), W. Lawson Little (1934-35) Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959-61), Deane Beman (1960-63), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Craig Stadler (1973), Mark O’Meara (1979), Hal Sutton (1980), Phil Mickelson (1990), Justin Leonard (1992), Tiger Woods (1994-95-96), Matt Kucher (1997), Ryan Moore (2004) and Bryson DeChambeau (2015).

The last five winners, 2022-2018, have been Sam Bennett (USA), James Piot (USA), Tyler Strafaci (USA), Andy Ogletree (USA) and Viktor Hovland (NOR).

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (2018) are the only players from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Click here to view the full list of past – U.S. Amateur Champions

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

For reasons I have never understood the USGA continue to allocate their Championship venues far out into the future: –

124th – 12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota
125th – 11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California
126th – 10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
127th – 09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
128th – TBD
129th – 13-19 August 2029 – Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio
130th – 12-18 August 2030 – Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Georgia
131st – 11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee
132nd – TBD August 2032 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
133rd – TBD August 2033 – Chambers Bay, University Place, Washington
141st – TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
147th – TBD August 2047 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan
151st – TBD August 2051 – Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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U.S. Amateur Championship – 2022 Preview & Results

Posted on 12/08/2022 by Golf Bible

21st August 2022

Match Play – Final

Sam BENNETT (USA), 22, beat Ben CARR (USA), also 22, by 1-Hole in the 36-hole Final of the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship at The Ridgewood Country Club.

He publically said earlier this week that he was the best player in the Championship and to be fair he proved it.

Sam Bennett With The Havemeyer Trophy (Photo: USGA / Grant Halverson)

Bennett, who is returning for a 5th year at Texas A&M University, had his college coach Brian Korton on the bag. Carr had former PGA Tour pro Willy Wilcox caddying for him.

“It’s a dream come true. It means a lot to hold that trophy. I’m sure I’ll take a peek at all the names, but I know Tiger Woods’ name is on it three times, and to put my name beside him, I know it’s something special.” said the new champion afterwards.

The two finalists couldn’t have had more contrasting routes to the Final. Bennett was tasked with taking down highly ranked players in each round whilst Carr, who is also returning to Georgia Southern University for a 5th year, had mainly faced relative unknowns before coming up against Derek Hitchner in the Semi-Finals.

Neither player gave up much ground in the opening exchanges but birdies on 14 and 18 saw Bennett take a healthy 3 Up lead into lunch. Allowing for the normal match play concessions he shot a 3-under 68 compared to Carr’s 72.

Match Play – Final Round 1 – Bennett v. Carr Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Early birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes in the afternoon saw Bennett move into an even more commanding 5 Up lead.

Any thoughts of a victory procession were dispelled by Carr who quickly responded with two 60 foot winning birdies of his own, a putt followed by a chip-in on the 5th and 6th holes.

Nevertheless Bennett still turned into the final 9 holes 3 Up and well placed to take the title. However, a combination of nerves, poor decision making and good play from Carr saw the match taken to the home hole. Thankfully for the Texan he played it perfectly to hold on for a narrow 1 Hole win.

Match Play – Final Round 2 – Bennett v. Carr Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2022 U.S. Amateur Match Play Scores

The champion, Sam Bennett, earned an exemption / invitation to the 2023 Masters Tournament (must still be an amateur), the 2023 U.S. Open Championship and the 2023 Open Championship (must still be an amateur).

The silver medalist, Ben Carr, secured an exemption / invitation to the 2023 Masters Tournament and the 2023 U.S. Open Championship so long as he remains an amateur.

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20th August 2022

Match Play – Semi-Finals

The start of play (2.00pm EDT) was delayed by 1 hour and 20 minutes on Saturday afternoon due to inclement weather.

Sam BENNETT (USA) beat Dylan MENANTE (USA) by 1 Hole in the opening Semi-Final. Bennett, who was 2up after 13 holes but was pegged back, birdied the par 5 17th to take a narrow win.

Match Play – Semi-Finals – Menante v. Bennett Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Ben CARR (USA) overcame Derek HITCHNER (USA) by 3&2, pulling away on the back nine after two birdies on the 13th and 14th holes.

Match Play – Semi-Finals – Carr v. Hitchner Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Here is a quick profile of each of the Quarter Finalists: –

Dylan MENANTE (USA) / Carlsbad, California / 21 years old / SPWAR #12, WAGR #8

Sam BENNETT (USA) / Madisonville, Texas / 22 years old / SPWAR #16, WAGR #3

Ben CARR (USA) / Columbus, Georgia / 22 years old / SPWAR #48, WAGR #70

Derek HITCHENER (USA) Minneapolis, Minnesota / 22 years old / SPWAR #37, WAGR #51

Hitchener, seeded #59, came through Wednesday morning’s 15-for-11 play-off to take his place in the Match Play stage.

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19th August 2022

Match Play – Quarter Finals

There were no surprises in the Quarter Finals with the higher ranked players all prevailing.

Sam Bennett’s post round interview raised a few eyebrows. He said “They’re great players, but I’m a better player. Number 3 in the rankings and I feel like I’m the best player. I’m the dog in this race. I’ve been playing the best golf leading up to here.” It will be interesting too see if he can ‘walk the talk’ over the next two days.

Match Play – Quarter Finals Results (Graphic: USGA)

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18th August 2022

Match Play – Round of 16

International interest in the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship ended at this stage with David PUIG (ESP), Hayden HOPEWELL (AUS) and Hugo TOWNSEND (SWE) all losing their matches in the afternoon series.

Here are the results from the Round of 16: –

Match Play – Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Match Play – Round of 32

Here are the results from the Round of 32: –

Match Play – Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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17th August 2022

Match Play – Round of 64

The three remaining GB&I players, Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) #44, Josh HILL (ENG) #35 and Mark POWER (IRL) #11, all fell at the first match play hurdle.

Bairstow handed the initiative to the experienced three time USA Walker Cup player Stewart HAGESTAD #21 by playing the opening five holes in 4-over in their Round of 64 encounter. However the Yorkshireman fought back to a Tied position after 10 holes with some solid par golf. Unfortunately parity couldn’t be retained and a bogey on the 11th followed by two birdies by the American on 16 and 17 saw the match end in a 3&1 defeat.

Round of 64 – Stewart Hagestad v. Sam Bairstow Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Josh Hill was 1-over for the 17 holes he played around the challenging Ridgewood course and therefore didn’t do too much wrong but unfortunately came up against an in-form Campbell KREMER (USA) #30 who was 2-under when the match ended.

Round of 64 – Campbell Kremer v. Josh Hill Scores (Graphic: USGA)

Mark Power couldn’t re-produce the play in his Round of 64 match that had seen him qualify strongly for the match play stage over the first two days of the Championship. 4-over for the 16 holes played was unlikely to get the job done against Walker ISLEY (USA) #54 who appears to have made few mistakes.

Round of 64 – Mark Power v. Walker Isley Scores (Graphic: USGA)

A very competitive Round of 64 saw a number of games require extra holes and numerous ‘upsets’.

Andrew VON LOSSOW‘s (USA) #63 3&2 win against co-medalist Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA) #2 was arguably the biggest surprise.

The ‘curse of the medalist’ also struck again with #64 seed Peyton SNOEBERGER (USA) taking out the #1 qualifier Luke GUTSCHEWSKI (USA) over 20 Holes.

The two other co-medalists Hugo TOWNSEND (SWE) #3 and Fred BIONDI (BRA) #4 both progressed after wins against JonErik ALFORD (USA) #62 and Frankie CAPAN (USA) #61 respectively.

Here are the full Round of 64 results: –

Match Play – Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2022 U.S. Amateur Match Play Scores

Stroke Play Qualifying – Play-Off

The 15-for-11 play-off started at 7.30am local time (12.30pm BST) on the 148 yard par 3 15th hole at The Ridgewood Country Club.

14 Americans and one Australian, Karl VILIPS, were participating in the early morning shoot out.

Walker ISLEY (USA) birdied the hole to claim the #54 seeding and a match against Ireland’s Mark POWER.

Conveniently for the USGA ten of the remaining players parred the hole (taking the #55th to #64th seedings) and four, including Vilips, bogeyed it meaning the play-off was resolved in 52 minutes with just one extra hole being necessary.

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16th August 2022

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 2

The Stroke Play Qualifying concluded with 68 of the 312 competitors still involved in the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship.

53 players on +4 and better have secured their spots in the Round of 64 Match Play draw. The remaining 15, who all finished with +5 totals, will play-off tomorrow morning for the final 11 places.

Michael Thorbjornsen, Hugo Townsend, Fred Biondi and Luke Gutschewski (Photo: USGA)

Hugo Townsend, who was born in Ireland and now resides in and represents Sweden, is the son of the 1965 GB&I Walker Cup player Peter Townsend.

Gordon SARGENT (USA) produced the best round of the Stroke Play Qualifying competition in Round 2, a bogey free 65 (-5) at Arcola Country Club, to take the 5th seed.

Mark POWER (IRL), who was the leading GB&I player, finished his second round 68 with an eagle to secure an impressive top 10 result.

Screenshot 2022-08-17 at 10.14.03

Stroke Play Qualifying Results – Top 10 (Graphic: USGA)

Power was joined by Englishmen Josh HILL (+3) and Sam BAIRSTOW (+4) in the Match Play Stage after both produced good second rounds to comfortably make the mark.

Sandy SCOTT (SCO) bounced back well with a 70 at Arcola but like the other GB&I entries had simply left himself too much to do after poor opening rounds.

In Round 2 the average score at The Ridgewood (par 71) was 77.03 (Round 1: 76.52) and Arcola (par 70) 74.87 (Round 1: 75.62). Whilst a little simplistic this suggests a Ridgewood first, Arcola second draw was beneficial during the Qualifying.

19 players, one more than yesterday, broke par, although the split was very different. Five players broke par at The Ridgewood Country Club (Round 1: 11) whilst 14 achieved the feat at Arcola Country Club (Round 1: 7).

Screenshot 2022-08-17 at 10.13.20

GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2022 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Results

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15th August 2022

Stroke Play Qualifying – Round 1

Just 18 players from a starting field of 312 broke par around the challenging host venues. Eleven came at The Ridgewood Country Club and seven at Arcola Country Club.

The five Round 1 leaders, all American, opened their accounts at The Ridgewood with 3-under 68’s. Michael THORBJORNSEN, the 2018 U.S. Junior Amateur and a rising junior at Stanford University, is the standout name amongst this group.

South Africa’s Christo LAMPRECHT, a rising junior at Georgia Tech University, recorded the best round at Arcola on Day 1 with a 2-under 68.

Both courses played on average 5.5 shots over par; The Ridgewood (par 71) at 76.52 and Arcola (par 70) 75.62.

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Leaderboard & Round 2 Tee Times (Graphic: USGA)

It was sadly not a particularly good day for the GB&I contingent. Josh HILL and Mark POWER (tied 52nd) led the way for us with 2-over scores and positions within the all important top 64.

Hill, who started his Championship at Arcola, looked on course for a better score but a double bogey on his 16th hole and a bogey on his 17th, the 6th and 7th on the course after he had teed off on the 10th, saw him not get fully rewarded for a good day’s work.

Power dropped two early shots on the 2nd and 5th at The Ridgewood but battled well to be even par for the remainder of his round, a bogey on long par 4 10th offset by a birdie on the short 12th.

For the remainder of our players it is going to take an exceptional round on Day 2 to make the match play cut, although Sam BAIRSTOW (+5 / T132) and John GOUGH (+6 / T166) are certainly not out of the running yet.

Based on the Round 1 scores it is anticipated that a maximum 145 total (+4) will be required to progress.

GB&I Round 1 Scores (Graphic: USGA)

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12th August 2022

Introduction

This year’s Championship is being played at The Ridgewood Country Club and Arcola Country Club, both of which are located in Paramus, New Jersey.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious competition in the amateur golf calendar.

2022 Field

7,749 entries were received for the 122nd U.S. Amateur Championship.

312 players, who were either exempt or who came through pre-qualifying, from 29 different countries will be competing.

Exemptions were granted based on past performances in previous amateur championships, selection for the Walker Cup and World Amateur Golf Rankings.

94 qualifying events, all played over 36 holes, were staged between 27th June and 27th July to make up the rest of the field. Click here to view all of the – 2022 Qualifying Results.

The average age of the field this year is 22.79 with the youngest player being Thailand’s Ratchanon Chantananuwat (15, born 4th March 2007) and the oldest USA’s Jerry Gunthorpe (59, born 25th May 1963).

Chantananuwat and Spain’s David Puig have both competed as amateurs on the LIV Golf Invitational Series in recent months. Puig has earned $267,000 (2 events) and Chantananuwat $136,000 (1 event) to date both clearly via Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) contracts as the maximum allowable prize money is $1,000 per event.

There are nine Great British & Irish (GB&I) players in the 2022 field. They are: –

Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 as at 22nd June 2022
Ryan DIXON (ENG) – Qualifier: Riverhill C.C., Kerrville, Texas on 11th July 2022
Alfie FOX (ENG) – Qualifier: Burningtree C.C., Decatur, Alabama on 5th July 2022
John GOUGH (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 as at 22nd June 2022
Josh HILL (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR Top 50 as at 22nd June 2022
Bobby LEOPOLD (ENG) – Qualifier: Connecticut National G.C., Putnam, Connecticut on 29th June 2022
Mark POWER (IRL) – Exemption: Walker Cup GB&I Team Member 2021
Sandy SCOTT (SCO) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team Member 2019
Sam STOREY (ENG) – Exemption: Decotah Ridge G.C., Morton, Minnesota on 28th June 2022

To put this into context there were 5 GB&I players at Oakmont last year, 11 at Bandon Dunes in 2021, 11 at Pinehurst in 2019, 7 at Pebble Beach in 2018, 9 at Riviera in 2017 and 11 at Oakland Hills in 2016.

The Ridgewood Country Club (Photo: The Ridgewood C.C.)

Format / Schedule

36-holes of stroke play will determine the top 64 match play qualifiers. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

Six 18 hole match play rounds will then be played culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

Monday 15th August – Stroke Play Round 1 (Ridgewood and Arcola – 18 holes)
Tuesday 16th August – Stroke Play Round 2 (Ridgewood and Arcola – 18 holes)
Wednesday 17th August – Match Play Round of 64 (Ridgewood – 18 holes)
Thursday 18th August – Match Play Rounds of 32 and 16 (Ridgewood – 18 holes)
Friday 19th August – Match Play Quarter Finals (Ridgewood – 18 holes )
Saturday 20th August – Match Play Semi-Finals (Ridgewood – 18 holes)
Sunday 21st August – Match Play Championship Final (Ridgewood – 36 holes)

Host Courses

The Ridgewood Country Club – stroke play and match play
7,487 yards (maximum), Par 71
Opened in 1929
Designed by A.W. Tillinghast with renovations completed by Gil Hanse in 2000

12th Hole “Scoonie”, Ridgewood Country Club (Photo: Ridgewood C.C.)

The Ridgewood C.C. has previously staged the Ryder Cup (1935), U.S. Amateur (1974), PGA Tour Barclays (2008 and 2010) and the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur (2016).

Arcola Country Club – stroke play co-host
7,256 yards (maximum), Par 70
Opened in 1909
Deisgned by Herbert H. Barker & William G. Wilkinson with subsequent renovations by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Steve Smyers.

Arcola C.C. Aerial (Photo: Jon Cavalier / @LinksGems)

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast (as at 12th August) is mixed with a fair amount of rain showers forecast for the week.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 15th August – Light Rain Showers PM / Wind 9 mph SE / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 25°C.
Tues 16th August – Light Rain Showers / Wind 12 mph NE / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 24°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 17th August – Light Rain Showers / Wind 10 mph N / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 24°C.
Thurs 18th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 9 mph NW / Temp. Min. 17°C, Max. 27°C.
Fri 19th August – Sunny / Wind 9 mph SW / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 28°C.
Sat 20th August – Light Rain Showers PM / Wind 9 mph S / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 29°C.
Sun 21st August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 6 mph S / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 29°C.

Prizes

The 2022 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;
b) An exemption to play in the 2023 U.S. Open which is being staged at The Los Angeles Country Club;

and assuming they remain amateur,
c) An exemption to play in the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool G.C.;
d) An invitation to play in the 2023 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;
e) An exemption to play in the 2023 – 2032 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

f) Various invitations to play in PGA Tour and European Tour events.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists. A Bronze Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

Bobby Jones Receives the Original U.S. Amateur Trophy in 1924

Spectators / Television Coverage

Some highlights of the stroke play will be shown on the USGA website and social media channels.

In the USA Peacock and Golf Channel will be covering the match play stage.

In the UK Sky Sports Golf normally take the U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

2021 U.S. Amateur Championship

James PIOT (USA), 22, won the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship beating Austin GREASER (USA), 20, by 2&1 in the 36-hole Final at Oakmont C.C.

Greaser entered the final back nine with a 3Up lead but by the time he got to the 14th tee he was 1Down, Piot having won four consecutive holes with two birdies and two pars.

Earlier this year Piot turned professional and joined the LIV Golf series.

James Piot (Photo: USGA / Chris Keane)

Medalist honours in the Stroke Play Qualifying went to Mark GOETZ (USA), 23, after rounds of 64 and 68 at Longue View and Oakmont respectively gave him a 132 -8 total, the joint second lowest in the history of the Championship.

Mark Goetz (Photo: USGA / Chris Keane)

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) was the only GB&I player to qualify for the Match Play Stage. He won one game before losing in the Round of 32 to Davis CHATFIELD (USA) by 1 Hole.

Not helped by the ongoing COVID-19 related travel restrictions there were only five GB&I competitors in the 2021 U.S. Amateur Championship.

GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

*Conor GOUGH (ENG) shot a 74 +4 around Longue View in his opening round and was lying tied 140th before withdrawing overnight.

Click here to view the – 2021 US Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying and Match Play Results

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2022 will see its 122nd playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (2018) are the only players from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

For reasons I have never understood the USGA continue to allocate venues far out into the future: –

14-20 August 2023 – Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota
11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California
10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
13-19 August 2029 – Inverness Club, Toledo, Ohio
12-18 August 2030 – Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Georgia
11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee
TBD August 2032 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
TBD August 2047 – Oakland Hills Country Club, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2021 Preview & Results

Posted on 08/08/2021 by Golf Bible

Sunday 15th August 2021

Match Play – Final

James PIOT (USA) won the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship after a thrilling comeback against Austin GREASER (USA) over the final nine holes of the 36-hole Final.

22 year old Piot is a 5th Year Senior at Michigan State University and with his victory became the first player to come from that state to win the Havemeyer Trophy.

James Piot (Photo: USGA / Chris Keane)

Greaser, 20 and a Junior at the University of North Carolina, went into the final back nine with a 3UP lead and with one hand on the famous gold trophy. However, by the time he got to the 14th tee he was 1Down, Piot having won four consecutive holes with two birdies and two pars. As he said in his post match interview “I just made some mistakes there on 11, 12, 13, just bogey, bogey, bogey. That’s never going to look good on the scorecard. I just didn’t execute coming down the stretch.”

When Piot extended his lead to 2Up with a par on the 502 yard par 4 15th the writing was on the wall. After two halves with pars on 16 and 17 the win had been secured.

Piot was jubilant. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world. I mean, as an amateur it’s the best thing you can do. After making that putt on 17, I was just like, oh, my God. I might’ve done it. It feels phenomenal, shows the hard work I’ve done is paying off.”

Both finalists had already earned exemptions into the 2022 U.S. Open Championship and Masters Tournament. Piot can now also look forward to a trip to the home of golf for the 2022 Open Championship.

Match Play Final Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2021 US Amateur MP Scores

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Saturday 14th August 2021

Match Play – Semi-Finals

Austin GREASER (USA), 20, beat Travis VICK (USA), 21, by 2&1 in the opening Semi-Final. Greaser, who reached the Semi-Finals of the Western Amateur earlier his month, won fours consecutive holes from the 11th to move 3Up and set up victory over the highest seeded qualifier left in the field.

James PIOT (USA), 22, beat Nick GABRELCIK (USA), 19, by 4&3. Similar to the other Semi-Final Piot’s win was founded on three straight hole wins between the 9th and 11th. Gabrelcik was the highest ranked WAGR player left in the filed whilst Piot held that honour in the SPWAR.

Match Play Semi-Final Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Friday 13th August 2021

Match Play – Quarter Finals

The Quarter Finals started in the afternoon and were completed in the early evening bringing the Championship back on schedule.

Here are the current SPWAR and WAGR amateur rankings of the four semi-finalists: –
Austin GREASER (USA) – #60 / #82
Travis VICK (USA) – #35 / #45
James PIOT (USA) – #7 / #86
Nick GABRELCIK (USA) – #21 / #28

All four have earned exemptions into the 2022 U.S. Amateur Championship at Ridgewood C.C. in Paramus, New Jersey by getting this far.

Match Play Quarter Final Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Match Play – Round of 16

Ricky CASTILLO (USA), who was unbeaten in this year’s Walker Cup, was a surprise casualty in this round.

Here are the full Round of 16 results: –

Match Play Round of 16 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Match Play – Round of 32

The remaining Round of 32 matches were quickly completed on Friday morning.

Sadly Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) lost his match to Davis CHATFIELD (USA) by 1 Hole thus ending GB&I’s interest in this year’s Championship.

Here are the full Round of 32 results: –

Match Play Round of 32 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Thursday 12th August 2021

Match Play – Round of 32

The fourth weather delay over the last three days saw play ended on Thursday evening at 6.35pm (11.35pm BST). Again it was rain and thunderstorms in the Oakmont area that saw the time lost move past the 10 hours mark. The previous delays saw the USGA, for the first time during the Match Play Stage, implement a two tee start for the Round of 32.

Just four of the 16 Round of 32 matches were completed before this latest suspension with Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) 1Down against 22nd seed Davis CHATFIELD (USA) after 13 holes.

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Match Play – Round of 64

The ‘curse of the medalist’ struck Mark GOETZ (USA) as he lost by 1 Hole to David NYFJALL (SWE), who having come through the 12-for-1 play-off is gaining confidence. Nyfjall was 3Down with four holes to play before winning them all with three pars and a closing birdie.

From a home perspective it was good to see Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) come through his match against 54th seed Chase SIENKIEWICZ (USA). Alex, who was 2Down after six holes, was 5-under par for the 16 holes he ultimately required to secure a 3&2 victory.

Here are the full Round of 64 results: –

Match Play Round of 64 Results (Graphic: USGA)

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Wednesday 11th August 2021

Match Play – Round of 64

The start of the Match Play Stage, being played exclusively at Oakmont C.C., was delayed due to further afternoon thunderstorms and another four hour suspension.

By the close of play just one match had been completed, 17 others were on the course and 14 had been deferred until tomorrow morning.

Ricky CASTILLO (USA) beat Donald KAY (USA) by 5&4 in the only match to be completed.

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Stroke Play Qualifying

The second round of the Stroke Play Qualifying recommenced at 7.30am (12.30pm BST) this morning.

Medalist honours were eventually secured by Mark GOETZ (USA) who turned 23 yesterday and grew up about 30 miles away from Oakmont. His rounds of 64 and 68 at Longue View and Oakmont respectively gave him a 132 -8 total, the joint second lowest in the history of the Championship.

Mark Goetz (Photo: USGA)

A 12-for-1 play-off at Oakmont C.C. saw David NYFJALL (SWE) become the 64th and final player to progress to the Match Play Stage. The 12 players involved in the shoot out all finished on 143 (+3) with Nyfjall’s 8 foot birdie putt on the third extra hole, the 18th, proving decisive.

The average Round 2 score at Oakmont was 74.97, just over two shots easier than Round 1’s 77.16 after yesterday’s rain had softened up the course and greens. Surprisingly nearby Longue View played slightly harder at 71.97 v. Round 1’s 71.69.

Here are the leading scores in the Stroke Play Qualifying: –

Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) was the only GB&I player to qualify for the Match Play Stage again confirming his status as our No. 1 amateur. He enters the Match Play as the 11th seed.

GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Results (Graphic: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2021 US Amateur SP Qualifying Results

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Tuesday 10th August 2021

Stroke Play Qualifying

Round 2 of the Stroke Play Qualifying started at Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club in Pennsylvania at 7.30am (12.30 pm BST) on Tuesday. However, a four hour delay during the afternoon meant that 156 players were unable to complete their second rounds.

With the top 64 cut expected to fall at +3 or +4 Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) still looks very well placed to qualify with 7 holes to play at Oakmont. Sadly it now seems inevitable that he will be GB&I’s only representative in the second stage.

Here is the GB&I scoreboard on Tuesday evening when play was suspended at 8.00pm (1.00am BST).

GB&I Round 1 and 2 Scores (Graphic: USGA)

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Monday 9th August 2021

Stroke Play Qualifying

As expected there proved to be a material divergence between the scoring at Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club, the two courses hosting the Stroke Play Qualifying. The average score at Oakmont in Round 1 was 77.16 compared with 71.69 at Longue View; the former playing 5.47 shots harder than its co-host 6 miles away.

Of the 82 players who finished Round 1 in the top 64 or tied for 64th just seven played Oakmont. Cole SHERWOOD (USA) 69 -1 and Parker COODY (USA) 70 Ev were the only two players to shoot par or better at Oakmont out of the 156 to take it on.

It should be noted conditions were also near perfect; temperatures in the high 80’s with very little wind.

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) -6 made a great start to proceedings with a 64 at Longue View. The leader, Jacob BRIDGEMAN (USA) is just one shot better than him after he opened with a course record equalling 63 -7. Whilst nothing can be taken for granted around Oakmont Alex looks well set to progress to the Match Play stage after tomorrow’s round.

Conor GOUGH (ENG) shot a 74 +4 around Longue View and was lying tied 140th. However, he withdrew after his round. I assume this was injury related but may as well have been because there was never going to be away back from that with Oakmont still to come.

Dev MORLEY (IRL) +5, tied 168th, and Joe PAGDIN (ENG) +6, tied 188th, battled hard for their scores at Oakmont in Round 1. Whilst they will need to produce an under par round tomorrow at Longue View they still have a chance to make the top 64 cut.

Enrique DIMAYUGA (ENG) +8 also plays Longue View tomorrow but looks as if he has left himself too much to do after his 78 today.

GB&I Round 1 Scores and Round 2 Tee Times (Graphic: USGA)

Joe HIGHSMITH (USA) and Mark GOETZ (USA) are tied with Fitzpatrick on -6 with Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA), recent winner of the Western Amateur, well placed on -5 alongside Caleb SURRATT (USA), Brian MA (USA) and Brad REEVES (USA).

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8th August 2021

Introduction

This year’s Championship is being played at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont and Longue Vue Club in Verona, both of which are located in western Pennsylvania.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious competition in the amateur golf calendar.

2021 Field

The U.S. Amateur Championship is open to amateur golfers with a Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4.

7,811 entries, all paying the $175 entry fee, were received by the USGA this year.

The final field is made up of 312 players who were either exempt or who qualified. The average age is 23.41 with the youngest player being Reed Greyserman (16) and the oldest Bob Royok (59).

57 players were exempt based on their performances in previous amateur championships, selection for the Walker Cup or top 50 ranking in the WAGR.

The remainder of the field qualified by playing in one of 94 36 hole events staged by the USGA at venues across the USA (91), Canada (1), Mexico (1) and Puerto Rico (1). Click here to view all of the – Qualifier Results.

The early scheduling of the Walker Cup, which saw a number of our leading players turn pro earlier in the summer, and the COVID-19 travel restrictions mean that only five GB&I players are in the 2021 field. They are: –

Enrique DIMAYUGA (ENG) – Qualifier: Lago Mar CC, Florida (Medalist)
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2019 & 2021 / WAGR #4 on 23rd June 2021
Conor GOUGH (ENG) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2019
Dev MORLEY (IRL) – Qualifier: Clustered Spires GC, Maryland (Medalist)
Joe PAGDIN (ENG) – Exemption: Special USGA; GB&I Walker Cup Team 2021 Reserve

To put this into context there were 11 GB&I players at Bandon Dunes last year, 11 at Pinehurst in 2019, 7 at Pebble Beach in 2018, 9 at Riviera in 2017 and 11 at Oakland Hills in 2016.

The following GB&I players chose not to or were unable to take up their exemptions: –

Barclay BROWN (ENG) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2021 / WAGR #41 on 23rd June 2021
Jack COPE (ENG) – Exemption: WAGR #20 on 23rd June 2021
Jack DYER (ENG) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2021
Mark POWER (IRL) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2021 / WAGR #32 on 23rd June 2021
Sandy SCOTT (SCO) – Exemption: GB&I Walker Cup Team 2019 / WAGR #7 on 23rd June 2021
Laird SHEPHERD (ENG) – Exemption: Amateur Champion 2021 / WAGR #49 on 4th August 2021

The English Men’s Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship for the Brabazon Trophy is being played at Ganton G.C. on 19-22 August 2021 which may prove to be an easier option.

The in form, highly ranked players, who I would expect to feature strongly at Oakmont are Ludvig ABERG (SWE), Ricky CASTILLO (USA), Pierceson COODY (USA), Louis DOBBELAAR (AUS), Nick GABRELCIK (USA), Ryan HALL (USA), Cole HAMMER (USA), Joe HIGHSMITH (USA), Bo JIN (CHN), Dylan MENANTE (USA), Maxwell MOLDOVAN (USA), Trent PHILLIPS (USA), James PIOT (USA), Luke POTTER (USA), David PUIG (ESP), Gordon SARGENT (USA) and Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA).

18th Hole, Oakmont Country Club

Format / Schedule

36-holes of stroke play will determine the top 64 match play qualifiers. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

Six 18 hole match play rounds will then be played culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

Monday 9th August – Stroke Play Round 1 (Oakmont and Longue Vue – 18 holes)
Tuesday 10th August – Stroke Play Round 2 (Oakmont and Longue Vue – 18 holes)
Wednesday 11th August – Match Play Round of 64 (Oakmont – 18 holes)
Thursday 12th August – Match Play Rounds of 32 and 16 (Oakmont- 18 holes)
Friday 13th August – Match Play Quarter Finals (Oakmont – 18 holes )
Saturday 14th August – Match Play Semi-Finals (Oakmont – 18 holes)
Sunday 15th August – Match Play Championship Final (Oakmont – 36 holes)

Tee Times

Click here to view the – 2021 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Tee Times

With Pennsylvania being 5 hours behind the UK play will start in our early afternoon and proceed through the evening.

Host Courses

Oakmont Country Club – stroke play and match play
7,254 yards (maximum), Par 70, Course Rating 76.7, Slope Rating 142
Opened in 1903
Designed by Henry Fownes and renovated by Tom Fazio in 2015.

Oakmont Country Club (Photo: Ruben A. Campus / @Chopper11Pilot)

The course was originally built on farmland adjacent to the Allegheny River Valley. Unusually for such a prestigious venue a major road, the Pennsylvania Turnpike which was constructed in the late 1940s, passes through the middle of the site. Two bridges link holes 1 and 8-18 and the clubhouse with holes 2-7.

Oakmont has the reputation of being one of the toughest courses in the United States. Over 175 bunkers and hard and fast greens which often slope away from the player provide a stern test.

Oakmont Country Club has hosted more major Championships than any other course in USA – 20. This will be its 17th USGA Championship – nine United States Opens (1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, 2007, 2016), five U.S. Amateurs (1919, 1925, 1938, 1969, 2003, 2021) and two U.S. Women’s Open (1992, 2010). It has also staged three U.S. PGA Championships (1922, 1951, 1978). Only Merion G.C. with 18 (19 after next year’s Curtis Cup), also in Pennsylvania, has hosted more USGA Championships.

Screenshot 2021-08-08 at 11.03.53

Longue Vue Club – stroke play co-host
6,647 yards (maximum), Par 70, Course Rating 73.3, Slope Rating 141
Opened in 1922
Deisgned by Robert White (SCO) and renovated by A.W. Tillinghast in 1935.

15th Green Longue Vue Club (Photo: Jon Cavalier / @LinksGems)

Longue Vue is perched on a hill above the Allegheny River and enjoys some spectacular views. Scottish architect Robert White was the first president of the PGA of America and also installed the first putting green on the White House Lawn.

Screenshot 2021-08-08 at 11.04.12

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast (as at 8th August) is predominantly a dry one although there is the risk of scattered thunderstorms throughout which may disrupt play.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 9th August – Cloudy / Wind 7 mph S / Temp. Min. 22°C, Max. 34°C.
Tues 10th August – Cloudy / Wind 10 mph SSW / Temp. Min. 22°C, Max. 32°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 11th August – Cloudy / Wind 9 mph SW / Temp. Min. 22°C, Max. 32°C.
Thurs 12th August – Cloudy / Wind 9 mph SW / Temp. Min. 21°C, Max. 32°C.
Fri 13th August – Cloudy / Wind 8 mph SW / Temp. Min. 18°C, Max. 30°C.
Sat 14th August – Sunny / Wind 8 mph NW / Temp. Min. 15°C, Max. 28°C.
Sun 15th August – Sunny / Wind 6 mph SW / Temp. Min. 16°C, Max. 29°C.

Prizes

The 2021 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;
b) An exemption to play in the 2022 U.S. Open which is being staged at The Country Club, Brookline;

and assuming they remain amateur,
c) An exemption to play in the 2022 Open Championship at St. Andrews;
d) An invitation to play in the 2022 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;
e) An exemption to play in the 2022 – 2031 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

f) Various invitations to play in PGA Tour and European Tour events.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists. A Bronze Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

Bobby Jones Receives the Original U.S. Amateur Trophy in 1924

Spectators / Television Coverage

No public tickets have been sold for the stroke play stage of the Championship with spectators only being allowed onto the grounds of Oakmont on Wednesday – Sunday’s match play games.

Some highlights of the stroke play will be shown on the USGA website and social media channels.

In the USA Peacock, Golf Channel and NBC will be covering the match play stage.

In the UK Sky Sports Golf normally take the U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

2020 U.S. Amateur Championship

Tyler STRAFACI (USA) won the 120th U.S. Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. He beat Charles ‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA) in the Final by 1 Hole.

2020 U.S. Amateur

Tyler Strafaci With The Havemayer Trophy (Photo: Steve Gibbons / USGA)

Sandy SCOTT (SCO) was the most successful GB&I entrant. He lost to Davis CHATFIELD (USA) by 2&1 in the Round of 32.

Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) and John GOUGH (ENG) both lost in the Round of 64 coming out on the wrong side of tight matches against McClure MEISSNER (USA) 2&1 and Segundo OLIVA PINTO (ARG) 19th hole respectively.

Wilson FURR (USA) 132 -11 secured medalist honours in the stroke play qualifying after posting a course record 62 (-9) on the Bandon Trails course on Day 2. His 62 was the joint second lowest score in U.S. Amateur history.

Wilson Furr (Photo: Steve Gibbons / USGA)

Just three of the eleven GB&I players made it through to the match play stage of the Championship. John GOUGH (ENG) -2 finished tied 23rd, Sandy SCOTT (SCO) Ev tied 36th and Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) +1 tied 48th.

The match play cut came at 145 (+2) with 18 players finishing on this score in tied 62nd place. An 18-for-3 spots play-off was therefore required to finalise the match play field.

Here is a summary of all of the GB&I stroke play qualifying results in 2020: –

GB&I Stroke Play 36 Hole Qualifying Scores (Photo: USGA)

Click here to view the full – 2020 U.S. Amateur Championship Results

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U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2021 see its 121st playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (2018) are the only player from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

15-21 August 2022 – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey
14-20 August 2023 – Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota
11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California
10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania
09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York
11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee
TBD August 2031 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon
TBD August 2041 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – Preview, Reports & Results

Posted on 24/06/2020 by Golf Bible

16th August 2020 – Match Play Final

Tyler STRAFACI (USA) is the 120th U.S. Amateur champion. He beat Charles ‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA) in a high quality Final by 1 Hole.

Allowing for the usual match play concessions there were 23 birdies and 1 eagle in the 36 holes played. Strafaci shot rounds of 69 and 67 and Osborne rounds of 66 and 68.

2020 U.S. Amateur

Tyler Strafaci With The Havemayer Trophy (Photo: Steve Gibbons / USGA)

Tyler STRAFACI (USA), 22, started the Final as favourite based on his WAGR of 56th compared with Osborne’s 460th. Strafaci had also won the North & South Amateur at Pinehurst earlier this summer too.

There were two facts that made Tyler’s participation in the Final interesting. His late grandfather Frank Sr was a USGA champion, winning the U.S. Public Links Championship in 1935 and like the 2019 U.A. Amateur champion, Andy Ogletree (USA), he is a product of the Georgia Tech University golf program.

However, golf is no respecter of rankings or history. Charles ‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA), 20, a rising junior at Southern Methodist University (SMU), made a dream start birdieing the opening three holes and building a 5Up lead after 12 holes having played just 41 shots (6-under par).

Perhaps the key part of the Final were the next 5 holes where Strafaci found his form and reduced the deficit to just 1Up after the opening 18 holes.

Strafaci v. Osborne Match Play Final Scorecard, 1-18 Holes (Photo: USGA)

Strafaci achieved parity on the second hole of the afternoon round with a birdie on the 2nd and moved into the lead for the first time on the 25th with another.

Whilst pegged back on the 31st birdies on the 32nd and 33rd appeared to have earned Strafaci the title. He was after all now 2Up with 3 holes to play.

However, the realisation of what he was about to achieve perhaps overcame him and bogeys on the 34th and 35th set up a nervy final hole decider. Strafaci recovered his composure and a 245 yard 4-iron to 25 feet set up a tap-in birdie which proved good enough to win the Championship.

The Final was the fourth consecutive match which Strafaci had won on Bandon Dunes’ 18th hole.

Strafaci v. Osborne Match Play Final Scorecard, 19-36 Holes (Photo: USGA)

Conditions were again near perfect in Oregon with sunshine and a gentle breeze seen for almost all of the match. A sea mist drifted in as the players completed the final holes.

Here are the USGA’s video highlights of the Final: –

Over a 36-hole, seesaw match in sun, wind and fog that saw a combined 26 birdies and eagles, there are plenty of highlights.

We've got 'em all right here! Presented by @Lexus pic.twitter.com/6VDbPlLZeK

— USGA (@USGA) August 17, 2020

The two finalists earned an exemption into the 2021 U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines and the 2021 U.S. Masters Tournament.

By taking the title Strafaci also secured a place in the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s (if he remains an amateur) and a place on the USA’s 2021 Walker Cup team. Hailing from Davie, near Fort Lauderdale, in Florida Strafaci’s family home is a short distance from Seminole, the venue of the next May’s match.

Click here to view the full – 2020 U.S. Amateur Championship Results

ME.

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15th August 2020 – Match Play Semi-Finals

Playing conditions were perfect on Saturday with temperatures in the 70’s and very light winds.

Tyler STRAFACI (USA) was taken to the final hole for the third match running before overcoming Aman GUPTA (USA) 1Up. Strafaci had led 4Up after 12 holes but needed to win the 18th to take his place in the final.

‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA) took control of his match with Matthew SHARPSTENE (USA) with a birdie on the 9th, a winning par on the difficult par 4 11th and consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th.

ME.

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14th August 2020 – Match Play Quarter Finals

Match Play Quarter Finals Results (Photo: USGA)

Tyler STRAFACI (USA), 22, beat mid-amateur Stewart HAGESTAD (USA), 29, by 1 Hole.

No mid-amateur has won the U.S. Amateur since John Harris in 1993. Hagestad has probably now done enough to secure a spot in the 2021 U.S.A. Walker Cup team, which will be his third consecutive appearance.

Philip BARBAREE (USA), 22 and Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA), 18, both lost thus losing the opportunity to join Tiger Woods as the only winner to date of both the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Amateur Championships. Barbaree won the Junior in 2015 and Thorbjornsen in 2018.

Aman GUPTA (USA), 21, is the highest stroke play seed remaining. He only earned a spot in the Championship when Ricky CASTILLO (USA) withdrew last friday.

Matt SHARPSTENE (USA), 21, won the opening hole of his match against Barbaree and was never caught.

Charles ‘Ollie’ OSBORNE (USA), 20, beat Cameron SISK (USA), 20, who had come through the stroke play play-off to earn the 62nd seed, by 2&1. Osborne led 4Up after 10 holes, lost the next four holes before recovering to take his place in the semi-finals.

For the first time since 2004 all of the quarter finalists were from America.

ME.

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13th August 2020 – Match Play Round of 32 and Round of 16

The winds picked up to gusts of over 30mph in the afternoon making conditions tough.

Of particular note in the Round of 16 was Tyler STRAFACI‘s (USA), 22, 1Hole win over Segundo OLIVA PINTO (ARG). With the match tied Oliva Pinto’s approach to the final green finished in a green side bunker and inexplicably when he reached the bunker his caddie jumped in and started rubbing the sand with his hand to test the depth. A loss of hole penalty was assessed and as a result Strafaci progressed.

Here are the afternoon Round of 16 results: –

Match Play Rd of 16 Results (Photo: USGA)

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Sandy SCOTT (SCO) lost his morning Round of 32 match to Davis CHATFIELD (USA) by 2&1 thus ending GB&I interest in this year’s Championship.

Scott again got off to a bad start before recovering. However, Chatfield maintained his composure and two late mistakes from the Scotsman enabled him to regain the upper hand,

Chatfield v. Scott Match Play Rd of 32 Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

Medalist Wilson FURR (USA) bogeyed the 18th and double bogeyed the 19th to hand his Round of 32 match to Harrison OTT (USA). No medalist has won the U.S. Amateur since 2003.

Conqueror of John Gough Segundo OLIVA PINTO (ARG) had a good win taking out McClure MEISSNER (USA) who had beaten Angus Flanagan in the previous round.

Here are the complete Round of 32 results: –

Match Play Rd of 32 Results (Photo: USGA)

ME.

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12th August 2020 – Play-Off and Match Play Round of 64

Cameron SISK (USA), Evan KATZ (USA) and Aaron DU (CHN) came through the 18-for-3 play-off early on Wednesday morning. Sisk and Katz birdied Bandon Dunes’ 375 yard 10th whilst Du birdied the 435 yard 11th to finish affairs off relatively quickly.

From a GB&I perspective only Sandy SCOTT seeded 42 (SCO) was able to negotiate his Round of 64 match coming back from 3Down after 6 holes to beat Brayden GARRISON (USA) 23 by 3&2.

Garrison v. Scott Match Play Rd of 64 Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

Scott should now be looking confidently towards the latter stages of this Championship. He won both of his singles in last year’s Walker Cup at Royal Liverpool, has a nice comeback win under his belt here at Bandon and he is the highest WAGR ranked player left in the field (6th).

Unfortunately Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) and John GOUGH (ENG) both came out on the wrong side of tight matches.

The Southern Amateur champion McClure MEISSNER (USA) 8 beat Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) 57 by 2&1. The American won the 16th and 17th holes with birdies to secure the win.

John GOUGH (ENG) 25 lost on the 19th hole to Segundo OLIVA PINTO (ARG) 40. Oliva Pinto birdied the 17th to regain parity before another birdie on the 19th hole saw him through to the Round of 32.

Medalist Wilson FURR (USA) continued his good form by beating Aaron DU (CHN) by 6&4. However, there were notable losses for highly fancied Davis THOMPSON (USA) and John AUGENSTEIN (USA) in Round 1.

ME.

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11th August 2020 – Stroke Play Qualifying Round 2

22 year old University of Alabama student Wilson FURR (USA) 132 -11 secured medalist honours after posting a course record 62 (-9) on the Bandon Trails course on Day 2. His 62 was the joint second lowest score in U.S. Amateur history.

Wilson Furr (Photo: Steve Gibbons / USGA)

Wilson Furr’s Stroke Play Qualifying Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

James PIOT (USA) -9 and Ben SHIPP (USA) -7 finished second and third respectively after completing their qualifying with a 65 and 67 on Bandon Dunes.

Day 1 leaders McClure MEISSNER (USA) and Aman GUPTA (USA) were both over par in Round 2 but with their firm foundations in place still finished in the top 10.

John Gough’s Stroke Play Qualifying Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

Sandy Scott’s Stroke Play Qualifying Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

Angus Flanagan’s Stroke Play Qualifying Scorecard (Photo: USGA)

The match play cut came at 145 (+2) with 18 players finishing on this score in tied 62nd place. An 18-for-3 spots play-off will therefore now be held tomorrow morning to finalise the match play field.

Connor MCKINNEY (SCO) and Joe PAGDIN (ENG) both sadly bogeyed 3 of their last five holes to miss out on qualification and even a shot at the play-off.

Austin ECKROAT (USA) +3, Cole HAMMER (USA) +3, defending champion Andy OGLETREE (USA) +3, Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA) +4, John PAK (USA) +5 and Pierceson COODY (USA) +8 were amongst the leading home players to miss the cut.

Round 2 Average Scores: Dunes 72.931 (+0.931) and Trails 73.689 (+2.689). As with Round 1 the wind speeds picked up but not as significantly as on Day 1. As a result the score differential between the morning and afternoon starters was less material.

GB&I Stroke Play 36 Hole Qualifying Scores (Photo: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2020 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Results

ME.

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10th August 2020 – Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1

McClure MEISSNER (USA) -8 and Aman GUPTA (USA) -7 recorded the lowest rounds on Day 1 of the 120^th U.S. Amateur Championship. Meissner was playing on the Dunes course whilst Gupta started his Championship on the Trails.

The wind picked up significantly in the afternoon and scores were around 3.5 shots higher on both courses from the second wave players.

Round 1 Average Scores: Dunes 75.583 (+3.583) and Trails 75.598 (+4.598).

At the end of Round 1 John GOUGH (ENG) -2 Dunes, Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) -1 Dunes and Joe PAGDIN (ENG) Ev Trails are all positioned in the all-important top 64.

These three and certainly the other 8 GB&I players still have work to do on Day 2 if they are to make the Match Play stage.

GB&I Stroke Play 18 Hole Qualifying Scores (Photo: USGA)

Click here to view the – 2020 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Results

ME.

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5th August 2020

Introduction

This year’s Championship is being played on Bandon’s Dunes and Trails courses.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious competition in the amateur golf calendar.

2020 Field

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic all Sectional Qualifying events were cancelled. In 2019 there were 96 36 hole events staged by the USGA with the qualifiers making up a large proportion of the final field.

The 2020 field is entirely made up of exempt players and has been reduced to 264 players – 312 normally compete. The entry fee for the U.S. Amateur Championship is $175.

Exemption categories, largely based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), were established by the USGA with the aim of creating a field that most closely resembles those of a typical Championship.

Based on the main exemption categories originally announced 28 GB&I players earned a spot in the field – see Appendix below for more details. However, due to international travel restrictions many of these players have not been able to take up this opportunity. This in turn opened the door to six other GB&I players who were ranked lower in the WAGR but were based in USA.

On 30th July 14 GB&I players were confirmed by the USGA as being in the field. Barclay Brown, Tom McKibbin and John Murphy subsequently withdrew on travel grounds leaving us with 11 starters. They are: –

Dan BRADBURY (ENG)
Archie DAVIES (WAL)
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG)
Angus FLANAGAN (ENG)
John GOUGH (ENG)
Jamie LI (ENG)
Connor MCKINNEY (SCO)
Rhys NEVIN (ENG)
Daniel O’LOUGHLIN (ENG)
Joe PAGDIN (ENG)
Sandy SCOTT (SCO)

There were 11 GB&I players at Pinehurst last year, 7 in 2018 at Pebble Beach, 9 in 2017 at Riviera and 11 in 2016 at Oakland Hills.

Sadly it will not be possible for any of the above GB&I entrants to play in the Brabazon Trophy (18-21 August) or the Amateur Championship (25-30 August) this year due to the current quarantining rules.

The par-4 fifth hole at Bandon Dunes (Photo: USGA/Steven Gibbons)

Most of the leading USA players will be competing at Bandon Dunes and I expect the following to feature strongly: –

John AUGENSTEIN (USA) – 2019 runner-up
Pierceson COODY (USA)
Quade CUMMINS (USA)
Austin ECKROAT (USA)
Cole HAMMER (USA)
Meissner MCCLURE (USA)
Maxwell MOLOVAN (USA)
Andy OGLETREE (USA) – 2019 champion
John PAK (USA)
Tyler STRAFACI (USA)
Preston SUMMERHAYS (USA)
Davis THOMPSON (USA)

Click here to view the – USGA’s 2020 U.S. Amateur Information PDF

Click here to view the – USGA’s 2020 U.S. Amateur Exemptions List

Click here to view the – 2020 U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Draw Sheets

With Oregon being 8 hours behind the UK play will start in our late afternoon and proceed through the night.

Competition Format

On Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th August all of the competitors will play 36-holes of stroke play, one round on the Dunes Course and the other on the Trails Course.

The Top 64 qualifiers will then progress to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

18 hole match play rounds will then be played on the Dunes Course between Wednesday 12th and Saturday 15th, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 16th August. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

Host Courses

Bandon Dunes Course
7,218 yards (maximum), Par 72
Opened in 1999.
Designed by David McLay Kidd.

Bandon Dunes Course Video (Photo: bandondunesgolf.com)

Bandon Dunes Course Scorecard (Photo: bandondunesgolf.com)

Bandon Trails Course
6,883 yards (maximum), Par 71
Opened in 2005.
Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw.

Bandon Trails Course Video (Photo: bandondunesgolf.com)

Bandon Trails Course Scorecard (Photo: bandondunesgolf.com)

The Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is the realisation of a dream by golf-mad owner Mike Keiser, a greetings card millionaire. It now incorporates six courses, including a spectacular 13 hole par 3 set up, all built on sand dunes 100 feet above the Pacific Ocean.

The Resort has previously hosted the 2006 Curtis Cup Match, 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship.

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast (as at 9th August) is positive for Championship week. Bandon Dunes in Oregon is on the north west pacific coast so temperatures will be cool and winds will be a factor.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 10th August – Sunny / Wind 21 mph N / Temp. Min. 21°C, Max. 9°C.
Tues 11th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 17 mph N / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 8°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 12th August – Sunny / Wind 19 mph N / Temp. Min. 20°C, Max. 9°C.
Thurs 13th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 19 mph N / Temp. Min. 21°C, Max. 10°C.
Fri 14th August – Sunny / Wind 21 mph N / Temp. Min. 22°C, Max. 10°C.
Sat 15th August – Sunny / Wind 15 mph N / Temp. Min. 23°C, Max. 13°C.
Sun 16th August – Sunny Intervals / Wind 11 mph NW / Temp. Min. 19°C, Max. 12°C.

UK Television Coverage

In recent years the Sky Sports Golf channel has taken the U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

Prizes

The 2020 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;

b) An exemption to play in the 2021 U.S. Open to be staged at [Winged Foot Golf Club or Torrey Pines];

and assuming they remain amateur,

c) An exemption to play in the 2021 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s Golf Club;

d) An invitation to play in the 2021 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;

e) An exemption to play in the 2021 – 2030 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

f) Various invitations to play in PGA Tour and European Tour events.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists.

A Bronze Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

Bobby Jones Receives the Original U.S. Amateur Trophy in 1924

A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since.

Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the U.S.G.A. Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.

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2019 U.S. Amateur Championship

Andy OGLETREE (USA) won the Final of the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship beating John AUGENSTEIN (USA) 2&1 in the 36 hole match.

Andy Ogletree (Photo: @USGA)

Augenstein got off to a great start on Course No. 4, which was used for the first 18 holes. Three consecutive birdies helped him build a 4Up lead after just 5 holes.

Ogletree came back at the Vanderbilt player gradually on the back nine and a birdie on the final hole saw him go into lunch just 2Down.

The Mississipian was relentless as play moved on to Course No. 2 in the afternoon. He finally got the match back to All Square on the 31st and immediately moved to 1Up with a birdie on the par 5 14th. After two shared holes with pars a four putt from off the green on the par 3 17th by Augenstein handed the trophy to Ogletree.

Ogletree made just three bogeys in the 37 holes he played in the Final.

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) was for the second year running GB&I’s leading performer in the Championship. He eventually lost in the Round of 16 to Cohen TROLIO (USA) 5&4. Trolio recorded five birdies on his front nine to take a 4Up lead and eventually saw out the game with another birdie on the 14th.

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Match Play Results

Brandon WU (USA) won the Stroke Play Qualifying competition with rounds of 65 -5 (No. 4) and 72 +2 (No. 2).

Brandon Wu (Photo: @USGA)

Tom SLOMAN (ENG) was one of six players one shot back of Wu on -2. Thomas FORSTER (ENG) and Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) -1 also qualified in the top 20.

11 GB&I players competed in 2019 with just five progressing to the Match Play Stage. Ben JONES (ENG), who finished tied 62nd, missed out after a 27-for-3 sudden death play-off on Course No. 4.

Here are the full GB&I Stroke Play Qualifying Results: –

U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Results

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and 2020 will see its 120th playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (2018) are the only player from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

09-15 August 2021 – Oakmont Country Club,

15-21 August 2022 – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey

14-20 August 2023 – Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado

12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota

11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California

10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania

09-15 August 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, New York

11-17 August 2031 – Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tennessee

Appendix – GB&I Players Eligible For The 2020 U.S. Amateur

Based on the main exemption categories originally announced by the USGA 28 GB&I players earned a spot in the field.

However, due to international travel restrictions many of these players were not able to take up this opportunity. This in turn opened the door to six other GB&I players who were ranked lower in the WAGR but were based in USA.

Here’s a list of the relevant exemption categories, the GB&I players initially caught by them and confirmation of the 11 who will be competing.

Round of 64 from the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) ENTERED
Sandy SCOTT (SCO) ENTERED
James SUGRUE (IRL)

From the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, winners in 2016-2019; runners-up in 2018-2019 and quarterfinalists in 2019
Joe PAGDIN (ENG) ENTERED

Playing members of the United States and Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup Teams, four year exemption once appointed to the team (2017 & 2019)
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG)
Conor GOUGH (ENG)
Thomas PLUMB (ENG)
Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL)
Sandy SCOTT (SCO)
James SUGRUE (IRL)

Winners of The Amateur Championship (five year exemption) (2016-2019).
James SUGRUE (IRE)

From the current Men’s World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) the top 225-ranked players as of 24th June 2020
Sandy SCOTT (SCO) #9
Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL) #17
James SUGRUE (IRL) #19
Joe PAGDIN (ENG) #20
Ben SCHMIDT (ENG) #27
Ben JONES (ENG) #30
Conor GOUGH (ENG) #43
Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) #63
Jake BOLTON (ENG) #69
Angus FLANAGAN (ENG) #73 ENTERED
Mark POWER (IRL) #81
Tom MCKIBBIN (IRL) #116
John MURPHY (IRL) #127
Charlie STRICKLAND (ENG) #136
Matty LAMB (ENG) #145
Joe LONG (ENG) #147
Robin WILLIAMS (ENG) #151
Thomas PLUMB (ENG) #153
Peter O’KEEFFE (IRL) #157
Sam BAIRSTOW (ENG) #158
Keith EGAN (IRL) #160
Harry GODDARD (ENG) #167
Max MARTIN (ENG) #173
Arron EDWARDS-HILL (ENG) #178
Callum FARR (ENG) #188
Jamie LI (ENG) #205 ENTERED
Connor MCKINNEY (SCO) #224 ENTERED

From the current Men’s WAGR, the top 25-ranked players using the WAGR Age Filter as of 24th June 2020. Players must be age 25 on or before August 10, 2020. Player’s WAGR profile must include date of birth to be considered for this exemption category
Caolan RAFFERTY (IRL) #17 (2nd)
Peter O’KEEFFE (IRL) #157 (8th)
Colm CAMPBELL (IRL) #399 (24th)

[Matthew Clark (SCO) #319 – date of birth not added to WAGR biography so excluded]

Remaining spots in the championship field will be filled using the World Amateur Golf Ranking
Dan BRADBURY (ENG) #298 ENTERED
Barclay BROWN (ENG) #353
Archie DAVIES (WAL) #244 ENTERED
John GOUGH (ENG) #239 ENTERED
Rhys NEVIN (ENG) #346 ENTERED
Daniel O’LOUGHLIN (ENG) #326 ENTERED

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2019 Preview, Reports & Results

Posted on 09/08/2019 by Golf Bible

Sunday 18th August 2019

Final

Andy OGLETREE won the Final of the 2019 U.S. Amateur Championship beating John AUGENSTEIN 2&1 in the 36 hole match.

Andy Ogletree (Photo: @USGA)

Augenstein got off to a great start on Course No. 4, which was used for the first 18 holes. Three consecutive birdies helped him build a 4Up lead after just 5 holes.

Ogletree came back at the Vanderbilt player gradually on the back nine and a birdie on the final hole saw him go into lunch just 2Down.

Ogletree made just three bogeys in the 37 holes he played in the Final and can now look forward to a place in the U.S. Walker Cup team and playing exemptions into the U.S. Masters (where he will be paired for the first two rounds with Tiger Woods), the U.S. Open and The Open Championship.

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Click here to view the live – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

ME.

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Saturday 17th August 2019

Semi-Finals

Andy OGLETREE beat Cohen TROLIO 3&1 in a fairly poor quality first Semi-Final where pars on Pinehurst’s tough Course No. 2 were frequently good enough to win holes.

The second match was of a much higher standard with John AUGENSTEIN coming through against William HOLCOMB who battled to the end but was outclassed by his more experienced opponent.

Ogletree and Augenstein both gain exemptions into The Masters Tournament and U.S. Open Championship in 2020 following their wins today.

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U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Click here to view the live – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

ME.

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Friday 16th August 2019

Quarter Finals

Debutant Cohen TROLIO, who celebrated his 17th birthday last week continues to surprise at the U.S. Amateur Championship. Having drawn level on the 13th with an eagle Austin SQUIRES gifted Game 1 to his opponent by following it with three consecutive bogeys on 14, 15 and 16.

Trolio will now play 21 year old Andy OGLETREE, a fellow Mississippian and a rising senior at Georgia Tech, who overcame Spencer RALSTON in their Quarter Final. Ralston was made to pay for five bogeys on the day by the much steadier Ogletree.

John AUGENSTEIN (21) beat Palmer JACKSON 3&2 and is now the player to beat for me. A strong start saw the man from Kentucky build a 3Up lead after seven holes and he saw the game out comfortably thereafter.

In the biggest surprise of the day William HOLCOMB V, who is 21 and married, easily saw off Australia’s Karl VILIPS, who turned 18 today. Vilips who had looked so good all week simply didn’t turn up. He shot 6-over for the front nine gifting Holcomb a 4Up lead and whilst he played much better on the back side he was unable to make any inroads.

The Quarter finals were delayed for just over an hour when heavy rain caused a suspension in play at 4.32pm.

Here are the current SPWAR’s of the Semi-Finalists – Augenstein #21, #Ogletree #120, Holcomb #426 and Trolio #1,706.

On paper, from a selfish GB&I Walker Cup perspective, I would be pleased to see anyone but Augenstein win the Championship over the weekend. The champion earns an automatic place on the U.S.A. team.

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U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Click here to view the live – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

ME.

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Thursday 15th August 2019

Match Play Round of 16

An inspired Cohen TROLIO (USA) beat Alex FITZPATRICK 5&4 in their Round of 16 match. Five birdies on his front nine handed Trolio a 4Up lead and after a wobble at the start of the back nine he eventually saw out the game with another birdie on the 14th.

UPPER HALF (seedings in brackets)

Cohen Trolio (57) 🇦🇺 v. Alex FITZPATRICK (24) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

The son of a golf professional Trolio, from West Point in Mississippi is 17 and has verbally committed to Louisiana State University for the 2021/22 academic year. Whilst relatively inexperienced and unknown he is certainly enjoying his time in North Carolina this week. Before beating Fitzpatrick this afternoon he had taken out 8th seed Trevor WERBYLO (USA) by 2 Holes in the Round of 64 and 40th seed Blake WAGONER (USA) 2&1 earlier today.

Trolio will play Austin SQUIRES (USA) in the Quarter Finals. Squires has gone from strength to strength since claiming the last Match Play spot in Wednesday morning’s play-off, today beating both Stefano MAZZOLI (ITA) and highly fancied Amercian John PAK.

The COODY brothers both lost in the Round of 16. Parker to Spencer RALSTON 6&5 and Pierceson more surprisingly to William HOLCOMB V 2&1.

Ricky CASTILO and Isaiah SALINDA, alongside Pierceson Coody, strong U.S.A. Walker Cup candidates, also lost. Castillo to John AUGENSTEIN 1Up and Salinda to Palmer JACKSON.

Australia’s Karl VILIPS continues to impress. His 3&1 win over Brad DALKE 3&1 won’t have been lost on the rest of the field.

Match Play Round of 32

Alex FITZPATRICK, now GB&I’s sole representative in the U.S. Amateur Championship, teed off against Jack TRENT (AUS) at 8.30am (1.30pm BST) in the Round of 32.

In a tight match where both players played very good golf on the tough Course No. 2 the Yorkshireman finally came through with a birdie on the 21st hole to progress.

The highlight of the game would appear to be hole 5 where Fitzpatrick is shown as having recorded an albatross 2 on the par 5 to win the hole.

UPPER HALF (seedings in brackets)

Jack TRENT (56) 🇦🇺 v. Alex FITZPATRICK (24) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

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U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Akshay BHATIA (USA), one of the three players pre-selected for the U.S.A. Walker Cup team fell at this hurdle. He lost 4&2 to John AUGENSTEIN (USA) who has every chance of joining him at Hoylake in three weeks time.

The two COODY brothers, Parker and Pierceson, both win and with the two of them on opposite sides of the draw an all Coody Final remains a possibility.

In the final game Steven FISK (USA) lost to Karl VILIPS (AUS) 3&1 in one of the standout matches of the Round of 32.

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

ME.

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Wednesday 14th August 2019

Match Play Round of 64

The Match Play Round of 64 games started at 10.00am (3.00pm BST) today on Course No. 2. The games involving the three leading seeds and the three play-off qualifiers were scheduled at the back of the field to ensure there was no delay in play.

It proved to be a generally disappointing day for the five GB&I players who qualified.

UPPER HALF (seedings in brackets)

Alex FITZPATRICK (24) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 v. James SUGRUE (41) 🇮🇪

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Alex FITZPATRICK comfortably beat an out of sorts James SUGRUE in their match. James was +7 and Alex +2 for the 14 holes played. Alex will now play Australia’s JACK TRENT in the Round of 32 tomorrow morning. Jack beat Ryan GERARD (USA) 4&3 in his Round of 64 match.

LOWER HALF (seedings in brackets)

Tom SLOMAN (3) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 v. Van HOLMGREN (62) 🇺🇸

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Tom SLOMAN will be disappointed to have lost to the relatively inexperienced Minnesotan Van HOLMGREN, particularly having got off to a good start. Tom was +5 for the 16 holes played whilst Holmgren recovered well after a nervous opening to be +1.

Thomas FORSTER (19) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 v. William HOLCOMB V (46) 🇺🇸

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Thomas FORSTER led 4Up with 8 holes to play but bogeyed 7 of them to let Texan William HOLCOMB back into the match. Holcomb found his feet after 7 holes playing the last 11 in 1-under which is always going to get the job done on Course No. 2.

Brad DALKE (27) 🇺🇸 v. Sandy SCOTT (38) 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

U.S. Amateur Championship Match Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Sandy SCOTT played the best golf of all of the GB&I players who contested the Round of 64 but ended up losing to 2016 runner up Brad DALKE. Scott was Even par on his round when play ended on the 17th. The joys of match play golf.

Medalist Brandon WU (USA) lost by 2 holes to the final qualifier Austin SQUIRES (USA). Other notables exits included Austin ECKROAT (USA), Stewart HAGESTAD (USA), Chandler PHILLIPS (USA), Matthias SCHMID (GER) and Cameron YOUNG (USA).

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Match Play Draws and Scores

ME.

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Tuesday 13th August and Wednesday 14th August 2019

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 2

Course No. 2 – 7,414 yards, par 70 – Rd 1 Stroke Average 77.14
Course No. 4 – 7,246 yards, par 70 – Rd 1 Stroke Average 73.58

Round 2 of the Stroke Play Qualifying competition was not completed on Day 2 with play suspended due to darkness at 8.00pm. This was after a late afternoon weather delay of 1 hour and 21 minutes which ultimately prevented 50 players from finishing their rounds.

The Stroke Play Qualifying resumed on Wednesday morning at 7.20am and was quickly completed.

Just 11 players from the starting field of 312 finished the 36 holes at 140 (Ev) or better highlighting the severity of the U.S.G.A.’s Pinehurst test.

Brandon WU (22) followed up an opening round of 65 (-5) with a 72 (+2) on Course No. 2 to secure medalist honours on 137 (-3).

Brandon Wu (Photo: @USGA)

Six players finished at -2 including Ricky CASTILLO (18), Cooper DOSSEY (21), Jacob SOLOMON (22), Shiryu (Leo) OYO (20) of Japan, Tom SLOMAN (23) of England and Philip BARBAREE (22).

Tom SLOMAN enjoyed 5 birdies on No. 4 on his way to a 68 (-2) and an impressive tied 2nd place finish. He will enter Match Play as the 3rd seed. Tom put his success down to his caddie. “I’ve got a local caddie. He obviously knows where to hit it and I’ve just been trying to do it.” Personally, I think his good play is more likely due to his newly acquired Pinehurst straw boater hat !

Tom Sloman (Photo: USGA / Michael Reaves)

Thomas FORSTER, from Oundle in England, shot a 69 (-1) on No. 4 to secure his passage to the Match Play stage. Forster, who is a rising senior at Carson-Newman University in Tennessee, has used his knowledge of U.S. courses to good affect so far.

Alex FITZPATRICK battled hard on Course No. 2 to secure his place in Match Play with a 74 (+4) on Tuesday. He finished alongside Forster in tied 19th.

Our later starters in Round 2 were impacted by the deteriorating conditions and subsequent weather delay.

Sandy SCOTT shot a back nine 40 on Course No. 2 on his way to a 76 (+6) but thankfully had enough in the bank after his strong opening round to make it through in tied 28th.

The fates of James SUGRUE and Ben JONES were not decided until Wednesday morning.

Sugrue finished Day 2 on +4, which at that point was right on the top 64 and ties cut mark, with two holes to play and having double bogeyed the 15th on Course No. 2. as light faded. Undaunted he came out the following morning and proceeded to birdie 17 and par 18 to comfortably qualify on +3, also in tied 28th.

Jones looked like an easy qualifier all day but sadly unwound coming down the stretch. He sandwiched two birdies on 10 and 18 with 7 dropped shots to shoot 40 and put himself under pressure with a +5 total. Thankfully, it quickly became clear on Wednesday morning that he was likely to get a reprieve with the top 64 and ties cut quickly drifting out to his score.

The 27 players, including Ben JONES, who finished tied 62nd were therefore thrown the lifeline of a 27-for-3 sudden death play-off. It started on Course No. 4 once all of the scores had been collated. Van HOLMGREEN (USA) and Chad SEWELL (USA) birdied the par 4 1st to quickly earn the 62nd and 63rd Match Play seeds. With 7 players eliminated the remaining 18, still including Jones, progressed to the long par 4 2nd. This hole saw a further 5 players eliminated. Jones and 12 others moved onto the par 5 17th. Unfortunately Ben was not able to match the three birdies that were recorded so had to drop out at this point. Austen SQUIRES (USA) went on to par the 18th and secure the final Match Play spot. The play-off took around 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete.

The other GB&I players all missed the cut. Ben SCHMIDT (+6) T89, Euan WALKER (+6) T89, Conor GOUGH (+8) T120, Conor PURCELL (+16) T234 and Caolan RAFFERTY (+16) T234 all missed the cut.

U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Other notable players to miss out on the Match Play were Quade CUMMINS (USA – Walker Cup hopeful), Cole HAMMER (USA – World No. 1), Daniel HILLIER (NZL), David MICHELUZZI (AUS), Kevin O’CONNELL (USA – 2018 Mid-Amateur champion), Trent PHILLIPS (USA – Walker Cup hopeful), Jovan REBULA (RSA – 2018 Amateur champion), Alex SMALLEY (USA – Walker Cup hopeful), Chun An YU (CTP).

Click here to view the – U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Results

ME.

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Monday 12th August 2019

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1

Course No. 2 – 7,414 yards, par 70 – Rd 1 Stroke Average 77.05
Course No. 4 – 7,246 yards, par 70 – Rd 1 Stroke Average 73.14

U.S.A’s Brandon WU (22), a recent graduate of Stanford University, leads the Stroke Play Qualifying competition having shot a new course record 65 (-5) on Course No. 4.

This was a little surprising as his preparation for the U.S. Amateur could hardly have been worse. He and Stewart HAGESTAD (USA) represented the U.S.A. at the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, last week which finished on Sunday. As such they only arrived at Pinehurst this morning with the U.S.G.A. arranging late tee times for both of them. “I tried to manage my sleep as well as I could,” said Wu, “I slept great on the two flights up here and then took a quick nap before I teed off for about two hours. I actually felt pretty good.”

HAGESTAD, already selected for the U.S.A. Walker cup team, didn’t fair quite so well in Round 1. His 73 (+3) on Course No. 2 leaves him tied 102nd and with work to do on the easier Course No. 4 tomorrow.

The two other U.S.A. Walker Cup W.A.G.R. picks Akshay BHATIA and Cole HAMMER are also far from certain to make match play. Bhatia 72 +2 (No.2) is tied 73rd whilst Hammer 75 +5 (No. 2) is tied 152nd after 18 holes.

Wu holds a one-stroke lead over Trevor WERBYLO (21), a junior at the University of Arizona, and Palmer JACKSON (18), an incoming freshman at the University of Notre Dame, who both shot 66’s (-4) on Course No. 4.

Sandy SCOTT (SCO) is leading the group of eleven Great British & Irish (GB&I) players who are competing. His 67 (-3) on Course No. 4 where he teed off on the 9th hole, included six birdies. Talking after his round Scott said, “I felt like I got off to a little bit of a shaky start. I made a bogey on the second and I had some nerves going through the first few holes, but I managed to bounce back with a birdie (on the par 3 11th). I had three birdies on 15, 16 and 17 which gave me a bit of momentum. I managed to just trust a lot of the numbers that me and my caddie were going with and hit a lot of good approaches.” He finished a much steadier front nine with two birdies on the par 4 7th and 8th.

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG), who reached the Quarter Finals last year, shot a 68 (-2) on Course No. 4 to lie 8th after Round 1. Five birdies and an eagle on the par 4 16th hole were offset by two double bogeys and a bogey. “I played nicely, I had a few bumps in the road, but overall I sort of stuck it out and was patient and waited for openings to appear and luckily took them and yeah, finished off nicely. So pretty pleased.”

Ben JONES (ENG) recorded four birdies on his way to a 69 (-1). He is tied 19th.

Tom SLOMAN (ENG) arguably had the best round by a GB&I player. His even par 70 on Course No. 2 was one of only seven rounds that achieved par or better on this challenging layout. He is tied 28th.

Amateur Champion, James SUGRUE (IRL) is also nicely placed after a 70 (Ev) on Course No. 4 and sits alongside Sloman in tied 28th.

The table below shows how all of the 11 Great British & Irish GB&I players performed, along with their tee times and courses for Round 2. Many found Course No. 2 a tough nut to crack and will be looking to bounce back on Course no. 4 today.

U.S. Amateur Championship Stroke Play Scoring (Photo: U.S.G.A)

Click here to view the full – U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying Scores

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Friday 9th August 2019

The 119^th U.S. Amateur Championship starts on Monday 12th August at the Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in North Carolina.

The Championship is being played on Pinehurst’s No. 2 and No. 4 courses.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious competition in the amateur golf calendar.

Competition Format

On Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th August all of the competitiors will play 36-holes of stroke play, one round on Course No. 2 and the other on Course No. 4.

The Top 64 qualifiers will then progress to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

18 hole match play rounds will then be played on Course No. 2 between Wednesday 14th and Saturday 17th, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 18th August. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

The first round of the Final will be played over Course No. 4 with the second round utilising Course No. 2. This will be the first time that two different courses have been used for the 36 hole match.

2019 Field

There were 7,191 entries this year, each player paying the $175 entry fee.

96 36 hole Sectional Qualifying events were held in July across the U.S.A., with one each in Canada and Mexico too. The introduction of a European Sectional Qualifier, like the U.S.G.A. stage at Walton Heath for the U.S. Open Championship, remains long overdue in my opinion.

A final field of 312 players from 27 different countries (2018: 24) will contest this year’s Championship. 246 players are from U.S.A. with 66 coming from the Rest of the World.

Jay BROOKS (USA) is the youngest competitor at 14 and Sean KNAPP (USA) the oldest at 57. The average age of the field is 22.1 years.

2015 U.S.A. Walker Cup player Mike McCOY (56), the second oldest player, will be making his 20th appearance in the Championship. His son Nathaniel McCOY (29), also a reinstated amateur, is also playing this week.

There are 11 GB&I players competing. There were 7 in 2018, 9 in 2017 and 11 in 2016 at Pebble Beach, Riviera and Oakland Hills respectively.

Here is a list of the GB&I players with their Exemption Category or Sectional Qualifying event noted: –

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) – 2018 U.S. Amateur Quarter Finalist

Tom FORSTER (ENG) – Qualifier (1st Alternate) from Little Rock, Arkansas (22/07/19)

Conor GOUGH (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Ben JONES (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Connor PURCELL (IRE) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Caolan RAFFERTY (IRE) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Ben SCHMIDT (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Sandy SCOTT (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Tom SLOMAN (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

James SUGRUE (IRE) – Winner of the Amateur Championship 2019

Euan WALKER (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR as at 26/6/19

Earlier this week Joe PAGDIN (ENG) qualified for a place in the field based on his WAGR of 30th as at 7/8/19. However, having already committed to this week’s Boys’ Home Internationals and next week’s Boys’ Amateur Championship he understandably declined the opportunity.

Jake BURNAGE (ENG) narrowly missed out on a place. He rose to 46th in the WAGR this week but was the sixth new player, not already exempt, to move into the top 50. Only the top 5 are eligible with declined places, such as Pagdin’s, falling into the hands of Qualifying Alternates. Garrett Rank (CAN), the surprise winner of last week’s Western Amateur, moved up to 45th in the WAGR this week to secure the last of these final exemptions. The Points Average difference between him and Jake being just 0.5857.

2019 Stroke Play Qualifying

The draw for the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifying competition was made on Wednesday 7th August and can be viewed here – U.S. Amateur Tee Times

Play will start at 7.15am (BST 12.15pm). As North Carolina is 5 hours behind us the action will take place place during our afternoons and evenings.

Host Courses

The Pinehurst Resort – Courses No. 2 and No. 4 (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Pinehurst Resort Course No. 2
7,519 yards (maximum), Par 70
Opened in 1907.
Designed by Donald Ross (1907). Renovated by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (2010).

No. 2 is the primary Championship course of the nine that make up the Pinehurst Resort. Donald Ross worked on his masterpiece until he died in 1948. It is known for its crowned, undulating greens and has been returned to its original state by Coore and Crenshaw with huge areas of turf removed and a more natural look re-introduced. There are 111 bunkers and no rough on the course now.

This will be the third time that No. 2 has been the lead course for the U.S. Amateur. The previous stagings were in 1962 and 2008 with Labron Harris Jr. and Danny Lee the champions.

Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 2, Hole 17 (Photo: Pinehurst.com)

Pinehurst Resort Course No. 4
7,196 yards (maximum), Par 70.
Opened in 1919.
Designed by Gil Hanse (2018); Designed originally by Donald Ross (1919)

Pinehurst Resort, Course No. 4, Hole 6 (Photo: Pinehurst.com)

Weather Forecast (Updated – at 8.00am 12th August 2019)

Hot and sunny weather is forecast with the possibility of some delays in play due to late afternoon thundery showers.

Stroke Play Qualifying
Mon 12th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (SE). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 33°C.
Tues 13th August – Sunny. Wind 10mph (SW). Temp. Min 23°C. / Max. 35°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 14th August – Sunny, PM Showers. Wind 9mph (SW). Temp. Min 21°C. / Max. 35°C.
Thurs 15th August – Sunny, PM Showers. Wind 7mph (W). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 31°
Fri 16th August – Sunny. Wind 7mph (NW). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 32°C.
Sat 17th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (SE). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 30°C.
Sun 18th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (NE). Temp. Min 20°C. / Max. 32°C.

UK Television Coverage

Sky Sports Golf channel will be taking the Fox U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

Prizes

The 2019 U.S. Amateur champion will receive the following: –

a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;

b) An exemption to play in the 2020 U.S. Open to be staged at Winged Foot Golf Club;

and assuming they remain amateur,

c) An exemption to play in the 2020 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s Golf Club;

d) An invitation to play in the 2020 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;

e) An exemption to play in the 2020 – 2029 U.S. Amateur Championships;

and unofficially

f) Various invitations to play in PGA Tour and European Tour events.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists.

A Bronze Medal is also awarded to the stroke play medalist(s).

Bobby Jones Receives the Original U.S. Amateur Trophy in 1924

A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since.

Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the U.S.G.A. Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.

2018 U.S. Amateur Championship

Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) beat Devon BLING (USA) 6&5 in the 36-hole Final of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Hovland became just the second Continental European to win the U.S. Amateur. Edoardo Molinari (ITA) won in 2005 at Merion Golf Club beating Dillon Dougherty (USA) 4&3 in the Final.

Viktor Hovland (Photo: USGA)

From a GB&I perspective Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) did superbly well eventually losing in the Quarter Finals to Cole HAMMER (USA) 3&2. Harry HALL (ENG) and Eoin LEONARD (IRE) also qualified for the match play stage but both lost in the Rd of 64, to Stewart HEGASTAD (USA) by 1 Hole and Kristoffer REITAN (NOR) by 6&4 respectively.

In the preceding stroke play competition, played at Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill, only Eoin LEONARD (IRE) on 145 +2 [74 SH / 71PB], Harry HALL (ENG) 146 +3 [72 PB / 74 SH] and Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) 146 +3 [72 PB / 74 SH] qualified from the seven strong Great British and Irish contingent. Matthew JORDAN (ENG) 148 +5 [77 SH / 71 PB], Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) 148 +5 [78 SH / 70 PB], Robin DAWSON (IRE) 150 +7 [76 SH / 74 PB] and Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) 150 +7 [78 SH / 72PB] all missed the Top 64 match play cut.

Click here to view the full – 2018 U.S. Amateur Championship Results

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U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and this will be its 119th playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) and Norway’s Viktor Hovland (2018) are the only player from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

10-16 August 2020 – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon

9-15 August 2021 – Oakmont Country Club,

15-21 August 2022 – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, New Jersey

14-20 August 2023 – Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado

12-18 August 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minnesota

11-17 August 2025 – The Olympic Club, San Francisco, California

10-16 August 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pennsylvania

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2018 Preview, Reports & Results

Posted on 12/08/2018 by Golf Bible

Sunday 19th August 2018

Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) beat Devon BLING (USA) 6&5 in the 36-hole Final of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Viktor Hovland (Photo: USGA)

The Final was effectively won around the turn on the first 18 holes when Hovland won four holes in a row. Bling bogeying 8, 9 and 10 before Hovland birdied 11. The Californian battled to the end but was always unlikely to recover such a deficit against the in form Norwegian.

Hovland is just the second Continental European to win the U.S. Amateur. Edoardo Molinari (ITA) won in 2005 at Merion Golf Club, besting Dillon Dougherty (USA) 4&3 in the Final.

Match Play Final Results (Photo: USGA)

Click here to view the full – U.S. Amateur Championship Results

ME.

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Saturday 18th August 2018

Devon BLING (USA) beat Isaiah SALINDA (USA) by 1 Hole to win the first Semi-Final.

Devon will play Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) in tomorrow’s Final after the Norwegian overcame Cole HAMMER (USA) 3&2 in the other match.

Match Play Semi-Finals Results (Photo: USGA)

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Friday 17th August 2018

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) lost 3&2 to Cole HAMMER (USA) in their Quarter Final match.

Cole (18), arguably the best amateur golfer in the world at the moment, came into this week having already won the Azalea Invitational, the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (with partner Garrett Barber) and most impressively the Western Amateur Championship this season. He starts his college career at the University of Texas in September and is certainly one to watch.

After the match Cole said to the U.S.G.A.: “I think when I won the Azalea earlier this year, when I came out on top in a playoff against Hugo Bernard and Joe Pagdin, I felt like I belonged in amateur golf rather than just in junior golf. Actually even before that, last year at the Jones Cup, I came in third, and that’s a pretty solid finish for 17 [years old]. But this whole year has gradually been a rise to the confidence that I have now.”

As can be seen from the hole-by-hole scores below this was a hard fought contest with both players in good form. Cole was -3 for the holes played and Alex -2.

C. Hammer v. A. Fitzpatrick Match Play Quarter Final Scores (Photo: USGA)

Fitzpatrick (19) can now look forward to starting his freshman season at Wake Forest in September with renewed confidence knowing he belongs at this level.

As this year’s eight quarter finalists each earn an exemption into the 2019 U.S. Amateur he can at least take solace in the fact he has also punched his ticket for next year’s U.S. Amateur already.

Europe’s other representative Viktor HOVLAND (NOR) continues to impress. Following his second successive 7&6 win the Oklahoma State player appears to be the man to beat. In beating Austin SQUIRES (USA) he won seven consecutive holes (2-8) and equalled the largest margin of victory in an 18 hole Quarter Final record.

Here are the full results from the Quarter Finals: –

Match Play Quarter Finals Results (Photo: USGA)

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Thursday 16th August 2018

Match Play Round 3

For the second time on Thursday Alex FITZPATRICK required extra holes to get the win.

This time McClure MEISSNER was beaten on the 19th Hole. As with this morning’s round Alex bogeyed the par 3 17th to put himself under pressure. After three putting the 18th for a 6 and a fortunate half it was great to see the Yorkshireman birdie the 1st extra hole to end the match. 39 holes in a day is more than enough for anyone.

Mesissner is not someone I have heard too much about but having beaten both Brad DALKE and John AUGENSTEIN in the previous rounds he was clearly playing very well.

A. Fitzpatrick v. M. Meissner Match Play Round 3 Scores (Photo: USGA)

Speaking to the U.S.G.A. after the match Alex was understandably delighted to have made the Quarter finals: “It means a lot. This tournament has been something I’ve really wanted to get in from the start of the year. I’ve worked pretty hard to get in this, and it’s nice to actually play good golf when I get here. I didn’t expect to even qualify for the stroke play, so sort of each match getting further and further is getting more exciting, and as I said, if I was to get knocked out, I still wouldn’t be disappointed because I’ve had a great week.”

In the all-Norwegian match up Viktor HOVLAND beat Kristoffer REITAN 7&6 in a surprisingly one sided game.

Here are the full Round 3 results: –

Match Play Round 3 Results (Photo: USGA)

Match Play Round 2

It was a close run thing but Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) finally overcame Jesus MONTENEGRO (ARG) in a tight match on the 20th Hole.

Alex pared the par 5 18th to draw level before Montenegro bogeyed the 2nd extra hole to allow the man from Sheffield to progress.

A. Fitzpatrick v. J. Montenegro Match Play Round 2 Scores (Photo: USGA)

The two other remaining Europeans in the draw are Viktor HOVLAND and Kristoffer REITAN and sadly for Norwegian fans they will play each other in the penultimate game of this afternoon’s series.

Here are the full Round 2 results from Pebble Beach: –

Match Play Round 2 Results (Photo: USGA)

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Wednesday 15th August 2018

Match Play Round 1

Harry HALL (ENG) lost by 1 Hole to Stewart HAGESTAD (USA). Stewart, the mid-amateur selection for the 2017 U.S.A. Walker Cup team, came into the match full of confidence after recording the lowest qualifying round; a bogey free 66 in his Rd 2 at Pebble Beach yesterday. In a tight match where neither player led by more than one hole Stewart just came out on top.

S. Hagestad v. H. Hall – Match Play Round 1 Scores (Photo: USGA)

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) beat Ian SIEBERS (USA) 2&1. Ian handed control of the match to Alex with four bogeys in the first six holes and Alex was good enough to see it out from there. The draw was perhaps favourable to Alex but the match still had to be won. Whilst Ian shot a 68, including 7 birdies, at Pebble Beach in Stroke Play Round 2 and qualified strongly in 7th place he is just 16 years old and therefore inexperienced at this level.

I. Siebers v. A. Fitzpatrick – Match Play Round 1 Scores (Photo: USGA)

After a birdie on the opening hole Eoin LEONARD (IRE) appeared to lose his way on the famous cliff top holes that end Pebble Beach’s front nine, effectively handing the match to Kristoffer REITAN (NOR) with a sequence of bogeys. Reitan is an experienced international player ranked 44th in the SPWAR so there was certainly no shame in losing to him for the in-form Irishman.

K. Reitan v. E. Leonard – Match Play Round 1 Scores (Photo: USGA)

Here are the complete Round 1 results: –

Match Play Round 1 Results (Photo: USGA)

Medalist Daniel HILLIER (NZL) safely overcame play-off winner Jacob BERGERON (USA) 3&2.

The main upsets in Round 1 fell in the lower half of the draw which potentially could be good news for Alex Fitzpatrick. Braden THORNBERRY (USA), Collin MORIKAWA (USA) and Justin SUH (USA), all ranked in the SPWAR’s top 10, lost their games. Brad DALKE (USA), runner-up to Curtis Luck in 2016, and highly rated Junior Akshay BHATIA (USA) also lost in this part of the draw.

24-For-1 Play-Off

The sudden death play-off for the 64th and final Match Play spot started at 7.30am (3.30pm BST) on the 17th hole at Pebble Beach. The hole was set at 208 yards for the play off with the flag tucked on the back left hand side of the green.

The play-off was televised in full by the U.S.G.A. and streamed on Facebook and Twitter.

Unsurprisingly given the hole set up and circumstances just two players made birdie on the par 3 from the 24 who were competing. They were Jacob BERGERON (USA), the 12th to tee off, and Peter KUEST (USA), the 24th and last.

Both Bergeron and Kuest then hit great drives into the fairway on 18, the next play-off hole. Unfortunately at that point things went crazy. Bergeron mis-hit his lay up right blocking himself out behind the big tree in front of the green whilst Kuest, going for the green, hooked his approach into the Pacific. To cut a long story short Bergeron ended up winning the hole with a 6 with Kuest could only manage an 8.

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Tuesday 14th August 2018

63 players on +3 or better secured places in the Match Play Stage of the U.S. Amateur championship today.

A further 24 players on +4 will play-off tomorrow morning on Pebble Beach’s 17th hole to determine who takes up the final qualifying spot.

Stroke Play Qualifying Results Summary (Photo: USGA)

Daniel HILLIER (NZL) secured medalist honours from Cole HAMMER (USA) after both finished on 137 (-6). Daniel edged Cole on Pebble Beach count back. Both played the lead venue on Day 1 with Daniel recording a 67 (-4) to Cole’s 69 (-2).

As expected after Day 1 only Eoin LEONARD (IRE) on 145 +2 [74 SH / 71PB], Harry HALL (ENG) 146 +3 [72 PB / 74 SH] and Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) 146 +3 [72 PB / 74 SH] qualified from the seven strong Great British and Irish contingent.

Eoin qualified in some style. Standing at +5 after 27 holes he needed something special on Pebble Beach’s front nine to make the cut. Thankfully he was able to deliver a 32 including an eagle and two birdies to qualify comfortably.

Eoin Leonard’s Front 9 Scorecard At Pebble Beach (Photo: USGA)

Eoin has been seeded 43rd, Alex 56th and Harry 52nd for the Match Play Stage based on their qualifying scores.

Norway’s Kristoffer REITAN Ev T19 and Viktor HOVLAND +1 T24 were the only other European qualifiers. Fred LACROIX (FRA) +4 T64 has the opportunity to make it 8 European qualifiers as he is one of the players contesting tomorrow morning’s 23-for-1 play-off.

Whilst Matthew JORDAN (ENG) 148 +5 [77 SH / 71 PB], Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) 148 +5 [78 SH / 70 PB], Robin DAWSON (IRE) 150 +7 [76 SH / 74 PB] and Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) 150 +7 [78 SH / 72PB] all produced improved scores at Pebble Beach in Round 2 they had simply left themselves too much to do after struggling at the tough Spyglass Hill on Day 1.

Amateur champion Jovan REBULA (RSA) also missed out on with a 148 +5 [76 SH / 72 PB].

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Monday 13th August 2018

Daniel HILLIER (NZL) and Trevor PHILLIPS (USA) lead the Stroke Play Qualifying competition at the US Amateur Championship at the end of Day 1.

Hillier, 19, shot a 67 (-4) at Pebble Beach which included 5 birdies and an eagle.

Phillips, 20, recorded a 68 (-4) at Spyglass Hill which included 6 birdies, 4 on an unblemished back 9.

Recent winners in the U.S. Isaiah SALINDA (USA) -3 (PB) 3rd, Cole HAMMER (USA) -2 (PB) T4, Akshay BHATIA (USA) -1 (PB) T12 and Michael THORBJORNSEN (USA) -1 (PB) T12 have all clearly brought their form to California.

Hammer is 18, whilst Bhatia and Thorbjornsen are just 16. All three are amongst the favourites this week.

Norway’s Kristoffer REITAN -1 (SH) T12 and Viktor HOVLAND Ev (PB) T28 are the leading European entrants after Round 1.

As you can see from the table below it was a generally disappointing day for the Great British and Irish players. Harry HALL, Alex FITZPATRICK and Eoin LEONARD now have the best chance of making the top 64 Match Play Stage. The other players will need something very special on day 2 to progress where the cut can now be expected to fall at +2 or +3 based on the first round scores.

Amateur champion Jovan REBULA (RSA) also has a lot of work to do if he is to progress.

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1 Scores Summary (Photo: USGA)

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Sunday 12th August 2018

The 118^th U.S. Amateur Championship starts tomorrow in Pebble Beach, California.

This year the championship is being staged at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious competition in the amateur golf calendar.

Competition Format

On Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th August all of the contestants will play 36-holes of stroke play, one at Pebble Beach and the other at Spyglass Hill.

The Top 64 qualifiers will then progress to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

18 hole match play rounds will then be played between Wednesday 15th and Saturday 18th, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 19th August. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

2018 Field

A field of 312 players from 24 (2017: 29) different countries will contest this year’s Championship.

261 players are from U.S.A. with Canada (10) and Australia (8) the next best represented countries.

This year 96 (2017: 100) 36 hole Sectional Qualifying events were held in July across the USA, with one each in Canada and Mexico too. The introduction of a European Sectional Qualifier, like the U.S.G.A. stage for the U.S. Open Championship, remains long overdue.

This year’s average competitor age is 22.59 (2017: 22.39).

The oldest player will be Paul SIMSON (67, b. 10th May 1951) and the youngest Gaven LANE (14, b. 16th June 2004).

2015 Walker Cup player Mike McCOY will be making his 19th appearance in the Championship.

Denmark’s Nicolai HØSGAARD has chosen not to take up his exemption that came with his European Amateur Championship win at Royal Hague in late June. He is instead playing in the Boys’ Amateur Championship in Northern Ireland, aiming to secure his spot on Europe’s Junior Ryder Cup team.

There are 7 GB&I players competing. There were 9 in 2017 and 11 in 2016 at Riviera and Oakland Hills respectively.

Here is a list of the GB&I players with their exemption category or Sectional Qualifying event noted: –

Todd CLEMENTS (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

Robin DAWSON (IRE) – Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

Alex FITZPATRICK (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

Harry HALL (ENG) – Qualifier at Santa Rosa, California (23/07/17), 68 66 (-10) 1st.

Matthew JORDAN (ENG) – GB&I Walker Cup 2017 and Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

Eoin LEONARD (IRE) – Qualifier at Westfield, New Jersey (16/07/17), 67 70 (-5) 1st.

Gian-Marco PETROZZI (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 27/6/18

2018 Stroke Play Qualifying Draw

The draw for the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifying competition can be viewed here – U.S. Amateur Tee Times

California is 8 hours behind us so much of the action will take place overnight.

Matthew JORDAN and Robin DAWSON are in the same threesome. They will tee off at 8.01am (1st) at Spyglass on Day 1 and 1.16pm (10th) at Pebble Beach on Day 2.

Host Courses

Pebble Beach Golf Links
7,039 yards, Par 71.
Opened in 1919.
Designed by Jack Neville & Douglas Grant (1919) / Herbert Fowler (1920) / H. Chandler Egan (1928) / Jack Nicklaus (1998) / Arnold Palmer & Thad Layton (2007-2016).

Pebble Beach famously enjoys nine holes perched on the cliffs above the Pacific and is one of the world’s finest courses. An occasional criticism is that the poa-annua greens can be bumpy in the morning and late afternoon.

This will be the 12th U.S.G.A. Championship Pebble beach has staged. It has hosted four previous U.S. Amateurs; in 1929, 1947, 1961 and 1999, the latter won by David Gossett.

Pebble Beach Golf Links (Photo: Bart Keagy)

Spyglass Hill Golf Course
7,049 yards, Par 72.
Opened in 1966.
Designed by Robert Trent Jones (1966) / Tom Fazio (R. 1996).

Spyglass starts with five opening holes set in sand dunes near to the Pacific coast before moving inland to more challenging holes amongst the Monterey pine covered hills. A top rated course in the U.S. many commentators believe it to be nearly as good as Pebble Beach.

Spyglass co hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1999 alongside Pebble Beach.

3rd Hole, Spyglass Hill Golf Course (Photo: Pebble Beach Company)

Weather Forecast (as at 11.00pm 12th August 2018)

A cool spell of weather is forecast for next week with playing conditions expected to be virtually identical on each day.

Stroke Play Stage
Mon 13th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 17°C / Min 12°C.
Tues 14th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 17°C / Min 13°C.

Match Play Stage
Weds 15th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 17°C / Min 13°C.
Thurs 16th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 19°C / Min 12°C.
Fri 17th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 20°C / Min 14°C.
Sat 18th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 22°C / Min 14°C.
Sun 19th August – Sunny. Wind 8mph (W). Temp. Max. 20°C / Min 14°C.

UK Television Coverage

Sky Sports will be taking the Fox U.S. television feed, via the Red Button, over the final match play weekend.

Prizes

The 2018 U.S. Amateur Champion will receive the following: –

a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the following year;

and assuming they remain amateur

b) An exemption to play in the 2019 U.S. Open coincidentally to be staged at Pebble Beach Golf Links;

c) An exemption to play in the 2019 Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club;

d) An invitation to play in the 2019 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club;

e) An exemption to play in the 2019 – 2028 U.S. Amateurs; and

f) Various invitations to play in PGA Tour and European Tour events.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists.

Bobby Jones Receives the Original U.S. Amateur Trophy in 1924

A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since.

Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the U.S.G.A. Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.

The 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship

Doc Redman (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

The 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship was played at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.

Doc REDMAN (USA) won beating Doug GHIM (USA) on the 37th hole of the Championship match.

In an astonishing finish Redman recovered from 2-Down with 2 holes to play. On the 35th hole Redman dropped a 60 foot eagle putt before finishing the match with a birdie on the 36th and a conceded birdie on the first extra hole.

The U.S.G.A. highlights video below is worth watching just for Redman’s putt on the 35th.

2017 U.S. Amateur Highlights (You Tube: U.S.G.A.)

The Stroke Play medalist was Hayden WOOD who broke the U.S. Amateur Championship 36-hole qualifying record with a total of 131. Wood followed his 64 at Riviera with a 67 at Bel-Air to beat the 132 shot by Hank Kim (1994), Gregor Main (2011) and Bobby Wyatt (2012).

Jack SINGH BRAR, Robert MACINTYRE and Connor SYME all qualified for the Match Play Stage. Harry ELLIS lost out in the play-off on Riviera’s famous short par 4 10th hole. His double bogey 6 in the second group out saw him fall out of contention quickly.

Connor SYME went the furthest reaching the Quarter Finals before eventually losing 2&1 to Doug GHIM.

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and this will be its 118th playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Former US winners include Walter Travis (1900-01-03), Jerome Travers (1907-08-12-13), Bobby Jones (1924-25-27-28-30), Francis Ouimet (1914-31), W. Lawson Little (1934-35) Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959-61), Deane Beman (1960-63), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Craig Stadler (1973), Mark O’Meara (1979), Hal Sutton (1980), Phil Mickelson (1990), Justin Leonard (1992), Tiger Woods (1994-95-96), Matt Kucher (1997), Ryan Moore (2004), Peter Uihlein (2010) and Bryson DeChambeau (2015).

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) is the only player from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

2019 – Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, North Carolina – Courses No. 2 and 4.

2020 – Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon

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U.S. Amateur Championship – 2017 Preview, Daily Reports & Results

Posted on 13/08/2017 by Golf Bible

Sunday 20th August 2017

Final Results

Doc REDMAN came back from 2 Down with two holes to play to beat Doug GHIM in the 36 hole U.S. Amateur Final at Riviera Country Club.

Redman eagled the 17th and birdied the 18th to force extra holes. Ghim, presumably in shock, then made a mess of the tricky short par 4 10th, the 37th hole played, and having made a bogey conceded Redman his birdie putt and the Championship.

Doc Redman, 2017 U.S. Amateur Champion (Photo: USGA)

Click here to review the full Stroke Play Qualifying Match Play results – U.S. Amateur Championship Live Scoring

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Final Preview

Doug GHIM (21) will play Doc REDMAN (19) for the Havemeyer Trophy in today’s 36 hole U.S. Amateur Final at Riviera Country Club. The Final will tee off at 7.45am (3.45pm GMT).

The champion will also receive a Gold Medal, whilst the runner-up a Silver one.

Both finalists are now exempt in to the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills G.C. The champion will also be exempt in to the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links and can expect an invitation to play in the 2018 Masters at Augusta National G.C.

Finalists Doug Ghim (l) and Doc Redman (r) with the U.S. Open Trophy (Photo: USGA)

Both players are US College students; Ghim plays for the University of Texas and Redman for Clemson University.

Doug Ghim is ranked 1st in the SPWAR (updated as at 19/08/17) and 7th in the WAGR (as at 13/08/17). Ghim has enjoyed a very strong season and was already a very likely Walker cup pick for the U.S.A.

Doc Redman is ranked 7th in the SPWAR (as at 19/08/17) and 70th in the WAGR (as at 13/08/17). Redman has come on strong in the last few weeks. He was runner up in the Final of the Western Amateur a couple of weeks ago and has now backed it up with a great run at the U.S. Amateur. He must therefore be right in the Walker Cup picture too.

Sophia Schubert, who won the U.S. Women’s Amateur last week also studies at Texas. Whilst I am sure Doug Ghim won’t be thinking too much about it never in the history of the USGA have their reigning men’s and women’s amateur champions attended the same College.

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Saturday 19th August 2017

Semi-Finals (4)

Doug GHIM (USA) beat Theo HUMPHREY (USA) 2&1

Mark LAWRENCE Jr (USA) lost by 1 hole to Doc REDMAN (USA)

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Friday 18th August 2017

Quarter Finals (8)

In a game where neither player was at their best Connor SYME eventually lost 2&1 to Doug GHIM (USA) in the Quarter Final match.

Connor was 5-over par for the 17 holes played, albeit a double bogey on the 16th hole makes this appear worse than it really was. A single birdie on the 8th only produced a half for the Scotsman and against an in form and confident Ghim this was unlikely to be enough.

In his post round interview with the USGA Connor said “I just didn’t quite have my best stuff today. I was grinding away as much as I could. It was a good Championship but I’m obviously disappointed to lose today.”

Nevertheless a great week for Connor and he can now positively look forward to the Walker Cup down the road at Los Angeles Country Club.

Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)

Match Play Quarter Finals Qualifying Hole Locations (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

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Thursday 17th August 2017

PM – Match Play Round 3 (16)

Connor SYME beat Norway’s Kristoffer VENTURA by 1 hole in their Round of 16 match.

In the previous round Ventura beat Stroke Play medalist Hayden WOOD (USA) 3&2.

In a tight match it took a forty yard chip in on the 18th hole for Connor to come out on top.

What a way to close out a match. Connor Syme is in the #USAmateur quarterfinals. https://t.co/pQLfhrz145

— USGA (@USGA) August 17, 2017

Connor was 1-under par for the round and continues to play very well.

Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)

After the round Connor spoke with Shane O’Donoghue on Fox Sports.

Watch @connor_syme‘s post round interview with @ShaneODonoghue on @FOXSports. https://t.co/7IJ2Nfy7q9

— Golf Bible (@GolfBible) August 18, 2017

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

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AM – Match Play Round 2 (32)

Connor SYME beat Ricky CASTILLO (USA) 4&3 in a very impressive performance. Teeing off at 7.25am Connor wasted little time in taking the lead, birdieing the 493 yard 1st. A sequence of birdies on holes 6, 7 and 8 put the Scotsman 4 Up and cruising. The match finished on the 15th with Connor -4 for the holes played and bogey free. Let’s hope he can maintain that kind of form for a little while longer.

Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)

Robert MACINTYRE lost 3&1 to Dawson ARMSTRONG (USA) in their Round of 32 match. Robert made a great start – two birdies helping him into a 3Up lead after four holes. However, Armstrong, one of USA’s strongest players, won the 5th with a birdie before winning five holes in a row between the 7th and 11th to lead 3Up. Unfortunately he didn’t have to work too hard for this match turning run as MacIntyre bogeyed four of the five. The end of the line for Robert but he can take comfort in a good Championship which must surely have secured his GB&I Walker Cup place.

Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)

Match Play Round 2 (32) & Round 3 (16) Qualifying Hole Locations (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

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Wednesday 16th August 2017 – Match Play Round 1 (64)

The day started badly for GB&I with Harry ELLIS losing out in the play-off on the famous short par 4 10th hole at Riviera Country Club. His double bogey 6 in the second group out sadly saw him fall out of contention quickly.

Some better news was to come when the Round of 64 started in earnest.

Connor SYME beat Maverick MCNEALY (USA) 2&1. Connor won his match around the turn, winning the 9th with a par, the 10th with a conceded eagle 2 and the 11th with a birdie 4. 3Up at this point he was able to see out the match, albeit bogeys on 13 and 14 gave McNealy some hope. However, the American then proceeded to bogey the short 160 yard 16th and after shared birdies on the par 5 17th the match was over. Connor finished 2-under for the 17 holes played.

Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)

Fellow Scot Robert MACINTYRE then beat Cameron YOUNG (USA) by 1 hole. In what appears to have been a high class game our man from Oban had to be at his match play best to overcome Young who battled all the way to the finish line. Robert finished 2-under for the 18 holes played.

Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)

In the final GB&I match to finish Jack SINGH BRAR lost by 3 & 1 to Joey VRZICH (USA). As can be seen from the scores below Jack had a bad day at the office, starting very poorly and not really improve. He finished 7-over par for the 17 holes played. Worryingly in the context of the forthcoming Walker Cup this is the second time in three weeks, following the English Amateur, that Jack has qualified easily in stroke play before falling to a relatively unknown player in the first round of match play.

Hole-by-Hole Scores (Photo: USGA Scoring)

Here are the hole locations for the Round of 64 Match Play at Riviera Country Club: –

Match Play Round 1 (64) Qualifying Hole Locations (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

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Tuesday 15th August 2017 – Stroke Play Round 2

Jack SINGH BRAR, Robert MACINTYRE and Connor SYME have all qualified for the Match Play Stage of the U.S. Amateur Championship.

Harry ELLIS will contest a 13 player for 8 spots play-off tomorrow morning to see if he can join them.

Here are the Round 2 GB&I scores from the U.S. Amateur Championship which started today.

GB&I Round 2 Scores (Photo: USGA US Amateur Scoring)

The Stroke Play Medalist was Hayden Wood who broke the U.S. Amateur Championship 36-hole qualifying record with a total of 131. Wood followed his 64 at Riviera with a 67 at Bel-Air to beat the 132 shot by Hank Kim (1994), Gregor Main (2011) and Bobby Wyatt (2012).

Wood said. “To play that way these last two days has been good. I like where my game is. I feel comfortable on this course (Riviera) and it fits my game. I am looking forward to it because the tournament starts tomorrow.”
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Monday 14th August 2017 – Stroke Play Round 1

Here are the Round 1 GB&I scores from the U.S. Amateur Championship which started today.

GB&I Round 1 Scores (Photo: USGA US Amateur Scoring)

Here are the hole locations for the 36 hole Stroke Play Qualifying at Riviera Country Club and Bel-Air Country Club: –

Stroke Play Qualifying Hole Locations (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

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Sunday 13th August 2017

The 117^th U.S. Amateur Championship starts tomorrow in Los Angeles, California.

This year the championship is being staged at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades and Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles.Administered by the United States Golf Association (U.S.G.A.) the U.S. Amateur is the most important and prestigious competition in the amateur golf calendar.

Competition Format

On Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th August all of the contestants will play 36-holes of stroke play, one at Riviera and the other at Bel-Air.

The Top 64 qualifiers will then move forward to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a sudden death play-off.

18 hole match play rounds will then be played between Wednesday 16th and Saturday 19th, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 20th August. Extra holes will be played to resolve any halved games.

2017 Field

A field of 312 players from 29 different countries will contest this year’s Championship.

251 players are from the U.S.A. with Australia (11) and Canada (7) the next best represented countries.

This year 100 (2015: 99) 36 hole Sectional Qualifying events were held in July across the USA, with one each in Canada and Mexico too.

The introduction of a European Sectional Qualifier, like the U.S.G.A. stage for the U.S. Open Championship, is long overdue. Perhaps it could be rolled into the South of England Open Amateur Championship ? Walton Heath have staged the U.S. Open one for many years so I am sure they would be pleased to extend their relationship with the U.S.G.A. further.

This year’s average competitor age is 22.39 (2016: 22.29).

The oldest player being George ZAHRINGER (64, b. 23^rd April 1953), who successfully came through Sectional Qualifying and will be playing in his 19^th U.S. Amateur.

The youngest Alec NACHMANN (15, b. 27^th March 2002) will be one of three 15 year olds competing. One of them Karl VILIPS (AUS), who is certainly one to watch, turns 16 on 16^th August.

There are nine GB&I players competing this year. There were 11 in 2016 at Oakland Hills.

Here is a list of them with their exemption category or sectional qualifying event noted: –

David BOOTE 22 (WAL) – QF 2016 U.S. Amateur, Top 50 WAGR 21/6/17

Harry ELLIS 21 (ENG) – 2017 Amateur Champion

Scott GREGORY 22 (ENG) – 2016 Amateur Champion, 2017 U.S. Open Qualifier, Top WAGR 21/6/17

Stuart GREHAN 24 (IRE) – Top 50 WAGR 21/6/17

Robert MACINTYRE 21 (SCO) – WAGR 21/6/17

Alfie PLANT 25 (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 21/6/17

Jack SINGH BRAR 20 (ENG) – Qualifier at New City, New York (07/07/17)

Daniel SUTTON 21 (ENG) – Qualifier at Iowa City, Iowa (17/07/17)

Connor SYME 21 (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR 21/6/17

2017 Stroke Play Qualifying Draw

The draw for the 36-hole Stroke Play Qualifying competition was confirmed yesterday and can be viewed here – U.S. Amateur SP Draw

Interestingly the two Scots in the field, Robert MACINTYRE and Connor SYME, have been drawn together.

Host Courses

Riviera Country Club
7,284 yards, Par 70.
Opened 1927.
Designed by George C. Thomas and William P. Bell.

Riviera has hosted one U.S. Open (1948 Ben Hogan), two P.G.A. Championships (1983 Hal Sutton & 1995 Steve Elkington) and one U.S. Senior Open (1998 Hale Irwin) as well as serving as the perennial host of the US PGA Tour’s Northern Trust Open.

Riviera Country Club (Photo: California GOLF)

Bel-Air Country Club
6,785 yards, Par 70.
Opened 1926
Designed by George C. Thomas and William P. Bell, assisted by Jack Neville.

Bel-Air has previously hosted the U.S. Amateur (1976 Bill Sander) and 2004 U.S. Senior Amateur (2004 Mark Bemowski).

Bel-Air Country Club (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Weather Forecast (as at 7.00pm 13th August 2017)

Stroke Play Stage

Mon 14th Aug – Sunny. Wind 8mph (N). Temp. Max. 26°C / Min 18°C.

Tues 15th Aug – Sunny. Wind 8mph (N). Temp. Max. 23°C / Min 17°C.

Match Play Stage

Weds 16th Aug – Sunny. Wind 7mph (N). Temp. Max. 25°C / Min 15°C.

Thurs 17th Aug – Sunny. Wind 7mph NW). Temp. Max. 27°C / Min 15°C.

Fri 18th August – Sunny. Wind 7mph (W). Temp. Max. 28°C / Min 16°C.

Sat 19th August – Sunny. Wind 7mph (NW). Temp. Max. 27°C / Min 17°C.

Sun 20th August – Sunny. Wind 7mph (NW). Temp. Max. 26°C / Min 17°C.

As one would expect in California in August the weather is expected to be perfect for golf all week.

UK Television Coverage

Sky Sports normally take the US television feed, via the Red Button, over the final weekend.

Prizes

The 2017 U.S. Amateur Champion will receive the following (assuming they remain amateur): –

a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the ensuing year.

b) An exemption to play in the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills G.C.

c) An exemption to play in the 2018 Open Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links.

d) An invitation to play in the 2018 Masters at Augusta National G.C.

e) An exemption to play in the 2018 – 2027 U.S. Amateurs; and no doubt

f) Invitations to play in a variety of PGA Tour and European Tour competitions.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two losing semi-finalists.

A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since.

Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the USGA Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.

The 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship

The 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship was played at Oakland Hills Country Club near Detroit.

Curtis LUCK (AUS) won beating Brad DALKE (USA) 6&4 in the 36-hole Championship match.

Curtis Luck (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Alex SMALLEY (USA) earned medalist honours in the Stroke Play Qualifying. His 133 (-7) total came after two impressive rounds; a 65 on the North Course (NC), followed on Day 2 by a 68 on the tougher South Course (SC).

In the Stroke Play 56 players scored +1 or better to progress. A further 23 players finished with a +2 total and were required to participate in a sudden death play-off to determine the final 8 qualifiers.

Collectively Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I) enjoyed a relatively successful Championship. Six of our players progressed to the Match Play Stage including one from each of the four home nations.

Here is a summary of the GB&I performances (in order of success): –

David BOOTE (WAL)
MP – Brad DALKE (USA) won 3&2 in the Quarter Finals.
SP – Tied 57^th, SC 70 / NC 72 (+2)*

Sam HORSFIELD (ENG)
MP – Dylan MEYER (USA) won 19^th hole in Round of 16.
SP – Tied 11^th, NC 66 / SC 72 (-2)

Scott GREGORY (ENG)
MP – Nick CARLSON (USA) won 19^th hole in Round of 32.
SP – Tied 6^th, NC 69 / SC 68 (-3)

Connor SYME (SCO)
MP – Dylan MEYER (USA) won 2Up in Round of 64.
SP – Tied 30^th, SC 70 / NC 70 (Ev)

Bradley MOORE (ENG)
MP – Dawson ARMSTRONG (USA) won 1Up in Round of 64.
SP – Tied 57^th, NC 71 / SC 71 (+2)*

Jack HUME (IRE)
MP – Bryson NIMMER (USA) won 1Up in Round of 64.
SP – Tied 41^st, SC 72 / NC 69 (+1)

Jack SINGH BRAR (ENG)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied 80^th, SC 71, NC 72 (+3)

Ewen FERGUSON (SCO)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied 80^th, NC 72, SC 71 (+3)

Robert MACINTYRE (SCO)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied 99^th, NC 68, SC 76 (+4)

Grant FORREST 23 (SCO)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied185th, NC 73, SC 75 (+9)

Jamie BOWER (ENG)
MP – Did Not Qualify
SP – Tied 243^rd, SC 74, NC 77 (+11)

* David BOOTE and Bradley MOORE both birdied the 11th in the Stroke Play Qualifying play-off to progress to the match play stage, holing putts of 20 and 45 yards respectively on the 465 yard par 4.

To review all of the U.S. Amateur Championship results click this link – 2016 U.S. Amateur Results

U.S. Amateur Championship History

The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and this will be its 117th playing.

It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Matthew Fitzpatrick (Photo: U.S.G.A.)

Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) is the only player from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Future U.S. Amateur Venues

2018 – Pebble Beach Golf Links, California.

2019 – Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, North Carolina.

2020 – Bandon Dunes, Oregon

ME.

The U.S. Amateur Championship – 2016 Match Play Stage

Posted on 17/08/2016 by Golf Bible

17th – 21st August 2016

U.S. Amateur – Match Play Championship Stage

I believe 2016 will prove to be an historic U.S. Amateur Championship for Great Britain & Ireland (GB&I). I say this because I can’t recall six of our players progressing to the match play stage before and certainly not one from each of the four home nations.

Unfortunately one of our qualifiers couldn’t go on to win it ! David Boote (WAL) was the most successful reaching the quarter-finals of the match play stage.

Here is the story, at least from from a GB&I perspective, of the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship played at Oakland Hills CC, near Detroit.

Final – Sunday 21st August 2016

Curtis Luck (AUS) won the 2016 U.S. Amateur champion, beating Brad Dalke (USA) 6&4 in the 36-hole Championship match at Oakland Hills CC, in Detroit.

Curtis Luck (Photo: USGA)

Curtis Luck (SPWAR 37 / WAGR 7) went into the final as the favourite based on his superior world rankings; Brad Dalke (SPWAR 180 / WAGR 265) sitting well below him.

In many respects both players have already won though; by reaching the Final both Curtis and Brad guaranteed themselves invitations to the 2017 Masters and U.S. Open. By winning Curtis also picked up an invitation to The Open. Of course all of these exemptions are subject to them remaining amateur players.

Match 63 Curtis Luck 28 (AUS) Won 6&4 v. Brad Dalke 38 (USA)

To review all of the U.S. Amateur Championship results click this link – 2016 U.S. Amateur Results

Semi-Finals – Saturday 20th August 2016

Match 61 Nick Carlson 41 (USA) LOST 21st Hole v. Curtis Luck 28 (AUS)

Local player Nick Carlson made a good start to this semi-final taking a 2 Up lead after just 3 holes. Australian Curtis Luck hung around and eventually got the match back to 1 Down with 1 hole to play. Tragically for Carlson he could only manage a double bogey 6 letting Luck square the match on 18 with a bogey 5. Both players parred the 1st and 2nd holes before Luck birdied the par 5 3rd to take the lead for the first time all day and to make it through to the Final.

Match 62 Jonah Texeira 31 (USA) LOST 3&2 v. Brad Dalke 38 (USA)

In the second semi-final Californian Jonah Texeira led 2 Up at the the turn. However, he proceeded to bogey 10 and 11 allowing Brad Dalke to draw level. Two birdies on 13 and 15 and a badly timed bogey on 14 by Texeira allowed Dalke, 19 yesterday, to pull away, the man from Oklahoma securing a 3&2 victory on the 16th green.

Quarter Finals – Friday 19th August 2016

Match 60 David Boote 62 (WAL) LOST 3&2 v. Brad Dalke 38 (USA)

Brad Dalke is well known for two things – ‘signing’ for Oklahoma College when he was 12 and beating Rory McIlroy in an arm wrestling match at the 2015 Junior Invitational at Sage Valley. He also has some game which he demonstrated by starting this quarter final with five birdies in his first 6 holes. It was to David Boote‘s credit that despite this onslaught he managed to turn just 2 Down after three birdies of his own. Boote continued to play well on the back nine but further birdies from Dalke on 11 and 16 were good enough to secure a 3&2 win for the American. David Boote played his best round of the week thing to Dalke. It was just one of those match play days for the Welshman (who lives in Surrey, England 😉) where he came up against an unstoppable Dalke A-game.

Interestingly Dylan Meyer, who enjoyed such a good day yesterday, ran out of steam on the back nine of his quarter final losing 3&1 to Nick Carlson after three bogeys and one double bogey.

Round of 16 – Thursday 18th August 2016

Match 49 Dylan Meyer 33 (USA) WON 19th hole v. Sam Horsfield 17 (ENG)
Match 55 David Boote 62 (WAL) WON 2&1 v. Collin Morikawa 14 (USA)

There are no easy matches at this stage of the U.S. Amateur and the two facing our remaining GB&I representatives were certainly no exception to this rule.

Meyer’s amazing short game and putting skills were again on display as he and Sam Horsfield played out a quality match where par golf was largely the order of the day. With no player able to take command of the match it was always likely to come down to a small error. Meyer holed a 15 footer on 18 to take the match back down the 1st and was quickly rewarded when Horsfield missed a short 3 footer for par gifting the Indiana-man the win. It was some day for Western Amateur champion Meyer who knocked out medalist Alex Smalley in the morning before seeing off Sam, the SPWAR No. 1 ranked player in the world, in the afternoon.

Collin Morikawa, a California college golfer, and former Stanford-man David Boote will surely have been well known to each other before their Rd of 16 match teed-off. Birdies on the first two holes by Boote would have sent a clear message to Morikawa and whilst the Californian got the match back to even on the 4th poor bogies on 5, 7 and 8 handed back the initiative to Boote. With a 3 Up lead to defend on the back nine Boote had the mental fortitude and golfing ability to par his way into a 2&1 victory which he secured on the 17th. This was a very impressive win for the Welshman as Morikawa has been in excellent recent form, winning the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur before finishing second at the Air Capital Classic on the professional Web.com Tour.

Round of 32 – Thursday 18th August 2016

Three GB&I players progressed to the Round of 32.

Match 34 Doc Redman 49 (USA) LOST 5&4 v. Sam Horsfield 17 (ENG)
Match 36 Scott Gregory 9 (ENG) LOST 19th Hole v. Nick Carlson 41 (USA)
Match 45 David Boote 62 (WAL) WON 3&1 v. Ben Schlottman 35 (USA)

Sam Horsfield celebrated moving to the top of the SPWAR earlier this week by playing his very best golf to beat Doc Redman this morning. He shot 29 on the front nine before finishing the match 7-under on the 14th. Let’s hope he hasn’t used up all his putts this afternoon as he now has to face his recent nemesis, Dylan Meyer. Meyer beat Horsfield two weeks ago in the final of the Western Amateur Championship.

Scott Gregory played really well – he was 3-under for the 19 holes with just one bogey – but came up against an in form Nick Carlson. Despite fighting back from 3-down with 8 holes to play to take the match into extra time the excitement was short-lived. A 10-foot birdie putt from the local Michigan man saw him progress.

In probably the least spectacular match of the three involving GB&I players David Boote wore down Ben Schlottman to progress to the last 16. Boote had three birdies and two bogies but pulled away as Schlottman appeared to lose his game a little on the back-9.

Round of 64 – Wednesday 17th August 2016

Here are the Round of 64 Match Play results involving GB&I players with their qualifying positions included: –

Match 2 Connor Syme 32 (SCO) LOST 2 Up v. Dylan Meyer 33 (USA)
Match 4 Sam Horsfield 17 (ENG) WON 3&1 v. Hugo Bernard 48 (CAN)
Match 7 Scott Gregory 9 (ENG) WON 7&5 v. Raymond Knoll 56 (USA)
Match 17 Dawson Armstrong 2 (USA) WON 1 Up v. Bradley Moore 63 (ENG)
Match 24 Bryson Nimmer 23 (U SA) WON 1 Up v. Jack Hume 42 (IRE)
Match 25 Gavin Hall 3 (USA) LOST 3&2 v. David Boote 62 (WAL)

Connor Syme and Sam Horsfield both came up against recent amateur championship winners – Dylan Meyer won the Western Amateur whilst Hugo Bernard picked up the Canadian Amateur title just last weekend. In tight matches Syme was beaten 2Up, losing the last two holes to par, whilst Horsfield, who shot -4 for the 17 holes he completed, managed to ease out the competitive Bernard. Sam Horsfield has Terry Mundy, a family friend and the long-time caddie of Ian Poulter, on his bag at Oakland Hills CC this week.

Scott Gregory had a much easier task in his match against Raymond Knoll who simply never got going today. Knoll bogeyed 7 of the 13 holes they completed making life far too easy for the confident Amateur champion.

Afternoon rain and thunderstorms in the Detroit area led to a two hour suspension in play between 3.40pm – 5.40pm local time.

Unfortunately the tough finish on Oakland Hills South Course proved too much for both Bradley Moore and Jack Hume. Moore did very well to fight back to All Square against the highly rated No. 2 qualifier Dawson Armstrong having been 2 Down with 6 holes to play. However, having birdied the 13th and 16th, he bogied the last two holes to let Armstrong progress. Hume was 1 Up with 3 to play before he bogeyed 16 and 17 to give his opponent, Bryson Nimmer a 1 Up lead heading up the 18th. With the hole halved in par Nimmer moved on from another close match.

David Boote appeared to be in control of his match from the start, his consistent play enabling him to build up a 4 Up lead after 11 holes. He finally saw off Gavin Hall, the 3rd seed, 3&2 on the 16th green.

It is clear from today’s first round matches that almost anything can happen on the last 5 holes of Oakland Hill’s South Course.

For my preview of the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship and information on the Stroke Play Stage please click here – U.S. Amateur Championship Preview & Stroke Play Stage

ME.

The U.S. Amateur Championship – 2016 Preview & Stroke Play Stage

Posted on 13/08/2016 by Golf Bible

16th & 17th August 2016

U.S. Amateur – Stroke Play Qualifying Stage

Alex Smalley (USA), a sophomore at Duke University, earned medalist honours in the U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Qualifying. His 133 (-7) total came after two impressive rounds at Oakland Hills CC; a 65 on the North Course, followed on Day 2 by a 68 on the tougher South Course.

56 players scored +1 or better. This group, all of whom have confirmed their places in the Match Play Stage, included 4 GB&I players. Well done to Scott Gregory, Sam Horsfield, Connor Syme and Jack Hume.

T6 Scott Gregory 21 (ENG) -3 69 NC, 68 SC
T11 Sam Horsfield 19 (ENG) -2 66 NC, 72 SC
T30 Connor Syme 21 (SCO) Ev 70 SC, 70 NC
T41 Jack Hume 22 (IRE) +1 72 SC, 69 NC

From Europe the following players have also safely negotiated the Stroke Play Qualifier.

T11   Matthias Schwab 22 (AUS) -2 69 SC, 69 NC
T30   Mario Galiano 21 (ESP) Ev 69 SC, 71 NC
T30   Robin Petersson 24 (SWE) Ev 65 NC, 75 SC

A further 23 players finished with a +2 total. This group included David Boote and Bradley Moore. They all participated in a sudden death play-off played over the 10th, 11th, 17th and 18th holes of the North Course.

T57 David Boote 22 (WAL) +2 70 SC, 72 NC
T57 Bradley Moore 18 (ENG) +2 71 NC, 71 SC

From Europe just one other player made it through to the play-off.

T57 Federico Zucchetti (ITA) +2 71 NC, 71 SC

David Boote and Bradley Moore both birdied the 11th to progress to the match play stage, holing putts of 20 and 45 yards respectively on the 465 yard par 4. Federico Zucchetto bogeyed the 17th to drop out of the play-off on the 3rd hole. WAGR-ranked no. 1 Maverick McNealy (USA) also missed out bogeying the 10th, the 5th play-off hole.

The results of the other GB&I and European players are provided below, all of whom missed the match play cut were: –

T80 Jack Singh Brar 19 (ENG) +3 71 SC, 72 NC
T80 Ewen Ferguson 20 (SCO) +3 72 NC, 71 SC
T99 Robert MacIntyre 20 (SCO) +4 68 NC, 76 SC
T185 Grant Forrest 23 (SCO) +9 73 NC, 75 SC
T243 Jamie Bower 23 (ENG) +11 74 SC, 77 NC

T80   Pierrick Fillon 20 (FRA) +3 74 NC, 69 SC
T126   Ivan Cantero 20 (ESP) +5 72 SC, 73 NC
T143   Antoine Rozner 23 (FRA) +6 72 NC, 74 SC
T185   Luca Cianchetti 20 (ITA) +8 73 SC, 75 NC
T185   Andreas Gjesteby 21 (NOR) +8 76 SC, 72 NC

Click here for the full Stroke Play Results and Play Off Live Scores – Stroke Play Results

ME.

____________________________________

14th August 2016

The U.S. Amateur Championship starts tomorrow at Oakland Hills Country Club, just north of Detroit in Michigan.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) the U.S. Amateur is without question the most important and prestigious competition in the amateur golf calendar.

Competition Format
On Monday 15th and Tuesday 16th August all of the contestants will play 36-holes of stroke play, one on each of Oakland Hill’s two courses.The Top 64 qualifiers will then move forward to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place will be resolved by a hole-by-hole play-off.

18 hole match play rounds will be played between Wednesday 17th and Saturday 20nd, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 21st August. Extra holes will be played in the match play to resolve any halved games.

Oakland Hills Country Club
Oakland Hills CC, established in October 1916 and therefore celebrating it’s centenary this year, consists of two championship courses – the South and the North. The former is extremely challenging with a notorious finish. As the superior course the South will exclusively host the match play stage.

18th hole South Course, Oakland Hills Country Club

South Course
Architect – Donald Ross (1918) / Robert Trent Jones Sr (1951) / Rees Jones (2004/06)
Distance – 7,334 yards, Par 70.

North Course
Architect – Donald Ross (1923)
Distance – 6,849 yards, Par 70.

Click this link to access the Oakland Hills CC YouTube channel and view the full 36 holes – South and North Course Hole Flyovers

2016 Field
A field of 312 players from 29 different countries will contest this year’s Championship. 247 players are from the U.S.A. with Canada (13) the next best represented country.

The decision by the U.S.G.A. in 2012 to exempt the Top 50 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings continues to help broaden the entry. This year 99 (2015: 97) 36 hole Sectional Qualifying events were held in July across the USA, with one each in Canada and Mexico too. Just in case anyone from the U.S.G.A. reads this it would be great to see one in GB&I or Europe in the future too – just like they do for the U.S. Open Championship.

This year’s average competitor age is 22.29 (2015: 22.16). The oldest player being Chip Lutz (61, b.11th January 1955) and the youngest Edwin Kuang (15, b. 1st August 2001), one of three 15 year olds playing.

Lutz is the reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion who won the Seniors Amateur Championship at Formby GC last weekend before flying to Ohio to take his place in this week’s U.S. Senior Open. Having made the cut he is due to play in the final round before travelling to Oakland Hills for a 2.10pm (local time) tee time tomorrow. Following heavy rain today at Scioto CC and an almost certain Monday finish it will be interesting to see what Mr. Lutz decides to do.

Surprise 2014 champion Gunn Yang is the only former U.S. Amateur champion in the field. 70 of this year’s players also competed in last year’s Championship at Olympia Fields CC near Chicago.

There are eleven GB&I players competing. Here is a list of them with their exemption category or sectional qualifying event noted: –

David Boote 22 (WAL) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Jamie Bower 23 (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Ewen Ferguson 20 (SCO) – 2015 Walker Cup, Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Grant Forrest 23 (SCO) – 2015 Walker Cup, Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Scott Gregory 21 (ENG) – 2016 Amateur Champion
Sam Horsfield 19 (ENG) – 2016 US Open, Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Jack Hume 22 (IRE) – 2015 Walker Cup, Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Robert MacIntyre 20 (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Bradley Moore 18 (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Jack Singh Brar 19 (ENG) – Qualifier at Ada, Michigan (05/07/16)
Connor Syme 21 (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16

Sam Horsfield (ENG) – No. 2 in the current World Amateur Golf Rankings

Nine other players have qualified from the Continent of Europe: –

Ivan Cantero 20 (ESP) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Luca Cianchetti 20 (ITA) – 2016 European Amateur Champion
Pierrick Fillon 20 (FRA) – Qualifier at Napperville, Illinois (25/07/16)
Andreas Gjesteby 21 (NOR) – Qualifier at Knoxville, Tennessee (12/07/16)
Mario Galiano 21 (ESP) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Robin Petersson 24 (SWE) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Antoine Rozner 23 (FRA) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Matthias Schwab 22 (AUS) – Top 50 WAGR 29/6/16
Federico Zucchetti 21 (ITA) – Qualifier at Lubbock, Texas (19/07/16)

2016 Stroke Play Draws
The draws for the 36-hole stroke play qualifying competition can be viewed here – U.S. Amateur SP Draw

Weather Forecast (as at 5.00pm 14th August 2016)
Stroke Play Stage
Mon 15th August – Showers. Wind 6 mph (N). Temp. Max. 25°C / Min 21°C.
Tues 16th August – Showers. Wind 10 mph (NW). Temp. Max. 25°C / Min 20°C.
Match Play Stage
Weds 17th August – Sunny. Wind 6 mph (E). Temp. Max. 28°C / Min 21°C.
Thurs 18th August – Sunny. Wind 6 mph (E). Temp. Max. 29°C / Min 22°C.
Fri 19th August – Sunny. Wind 7 mph (N). Temp. Max. 30°C / Min 22°C.
Sat 20th August – Showers. Wind 9 mph (NE). Temp. Max. 29°C / Min 21°C.
Sun 21st August – Sunny. Wind 10 mph (SE). Temp. Max. 26°C / Min 18°C.

The forecast rain is likely to come with thunderstorms so suspensions in play are possible during the week.

If the current weather forecast proves to be accurate it may have a significant impact on the stroke play qualifying depending on the timing of the rain on both days.

From GB&I Jamie Bower, David Boote, Jack Hume, Jack Singh Brar and Connor Syme are playing the tougher South on Monday. Oppositely Ewen Ferguson, Grant Forrest, Scott Gregory, Sam Horsfield, Robert MacIntyre and Bradley Moore are scheduled to play it on Tuesday.

GB&I Results At The 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship
Last year nine GB&I players competed at Olympia Fields CC. Paul Dunne (IRE) was our best finisher reaching the quarter finals of the match play (MP) stage – he lost to the eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau (USA). Sam Horsfield (ENG) was our only other player to make the Top 64 MP cut which fell at +3.

T14   Paul Dunne 71 69 (-1) – MP Quarter Finals
T36   Sam Horsfield 72 70 (+2) – MP Round 2 (last 32)
T73 Cormac Sharvin 72 72 (+4) – Missed T64 MP Cut
T89   Grant Forrest 74 71 (+5) – Missed T64 MP Cut
T115 Henry Smart 77 69 (+6) – Missed T64 MP Cut
T115 Gary Hurley 72 74 (+6) – Missed T64 MP Cut
T115   Tom Bayliss 75 71 (+6) – Missed T64 MP Cut
T189 Ewen Ferguson 78 71 (+9) – Missed T64 MP Cut
T246 Nick Marsh 80 72 (+12) – Missed T64 MP Cut

History has shown, that the quality of the field is such, that simply making the match play cut is an achievement for many of the GB&I and European players that qualify to compete in the Championship.

UK Television Coverage
Sat 20th August – Sky Sports For iPad 8.00 pm.
Sun 21st August – Sky Sports 4 Red Button 8.00 pm

Prizes
The 2016 U.S. Amateur Champion will receive the following: –

a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the ensuing year.
b) An exemption to play in the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills.
c) An exemption to play in the 2017 Open Championship at Royal Troon G.C.
d) A likely invitation to play in the 2017 Masters at Augusta National G.C.
e) An exemption to play in the 2017 – 2026 U.S. Amateurs; and no doubt
f) Invitations to play in a variety of PGA Tour and European Tour competitions.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two semi-finalists.

The original silver Havemeyer Trophy was presented to the USGA on March 1895 in honour of the Association’s first President Theodore A. Havemeyer. This was lost in a fire at Bobby Jones’ home club, East Lake, in 1925. A new gold trophy was produced in 1926. This was retired in 1992 with a copy of the trophy being produced and passed from champion to champion ever since. Sadly the original gold trophy was stolen from the USGA Museum in 2012 and has never been seen since.

Championship History
The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and this will be its 116th playing. It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Former US winners include Jerome Travers (1907-08-12-13), Bobby Jones (1924-25-27-28-30), Francis Ouimet (1914-31), Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959-61), Deane Beman (1960-63), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Craig Stadler (1973), Mark O’Meara (1979), Hal Sutton (1980), Phil Mickelson (1990), Justin Leonard (1992), Tiger Woods (1994-95-96), Matt Kucher (1997) and Peter Uihlein (2010).

British players have won the Championship on six occasions but just twice in the last 100 years – H.J. Whigham (1896-97), Findlay Douglas (1898), Harold Hilton (1911), Richie Ramsay (2006) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013). Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) is the only player from the Continent of Europe to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

Last year Bryson DeChambeau, who had already won the NCAA Division 1 Individual title earlier in the summer, completed a memorable double beating compatriot Derek Bard 7&6 in the 36 hole Final.

Bryson DeChambeau US Amateur 2015

Bryson DeChambeau (Photo: USGA)

ME.

U.S. Amateur Championship – 2015 Preview & Results

Posted on 16/08/2015 by Golf Bible

UPDATE – Bryson DeChambeau (USA) won the 2015 U.S. Amateur Championship, beating Derek Bard 7&6 in the 36-hole Final.

Bryson DeChambeau (Photo: USGA)

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16th August 2015

The U.S. Amateur Championship starts tomorrow at Olympia Fields Country Club, just south of Chicago in Illinois.

Administered by the United States Golf Association (USGA) the U.S. Amateur is without question the most important and prestigious competition in amateur golf.

Field
A field of 312 players from 23 different countries will contest this year’s Championship.

The average competitor age is 22.16. The oldest player being Pat Tallent (62, b.12th August 1953) and the youngest Ricky Castillo (14, b. 19th February 2001).

This year entries were received from 7,047 players. 66 of these were exempt into the final field based on their past performances in USGA Championships or via their standing in the Top 50 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) as at 24th June. The remainder of the field progressed to Olympia Fields via 97 36-hole Sectional Qualifying events played across the United States in June and July.

There are nine GB&I players in the field: –

Tom Bayliss (ENG) – Sectional Qualifier (Medalist – Hobe Sound GC)
Paul Dunne (IRE) – USGA Special Exemption
Ewen Ferguson (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR
Grant Forrest (SCO) – Top 50 WAGR
Sam Horsfield (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR, 2015 US Open Qualifier
Gary Hurley (IRE) – Top 50 WAGR
Nick Marsh (ENG) – Top 50 WAGR
Cormac Sharvin (NI) – Top 50 WAGR
Henry Smart (ENG) – Sectional Qualifier (Medalist – Cedarbrook CC / Old York Road CC)

Six of the above are well known GB&I Internationals. Equally well known is Sam Horsfield, a top US-based amateur whose family moved to Florida when he was five. Tom Bayliss is from Kent and has been working on his golf in Florida ahead of turning Pro later this year. Henry Smart is the London-born Assistant Coach of the College of Charleston Men’s Golf Team.

With the GB&I Walker Cup team due to be provisionally selected on Friday 21st August and formally announced on Monday 24th August the U.S. Amateur may be of critical importance to some of the players competing. Likewise the U.S. Team is due to be finalised on 24th August and with five spots still to be confirmed some of their players will be feeling the pressure to.

The draws for the 36-hole stroke play qualifying competition can be viewed here – US Amateur SP Draw.

Competition Format
On Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th August all of the contestants will play 36-holes of stroke play, one on each of Olympia Fields’ two courses.

Olympia Fileds CC Club House

Olympia Fields Country Club

The Top 64 qualifiers from this will then move forward to the match play stage of the competition. Ties for the last qualifying place are resolved by a hole-by-hole play-off. 18 hole match-play rounds will be played between Wednesday 19th and Saturday 22nd August, culminating in a 36-hole Championship Final on Sunday 23rd August.

Olympia Fields Country Club
Olympia Fields is one of America’s leading golf clubs. The club hosted the U.S. Open in 1928 (Johnny Farrell defeating Bobby Jones) and 2003 (Jim Furyk) and the U.S. Senior Open in 1997 (Graham Marsh).

The stroke play qualifier will be played on Olympia Fields’ North and South Courses. The North Course alone will stage the match play rounds.

North Course
Architect – Willie Park Jnr (1923). Renovated by Mark Mungeam (1997, 2003).
7,234 yards Par 70.
Front 9 – 3,712 yards (36) / Back 9 – 3,522 yards (34).
Course Rating 76.8 / Slope Rating 150

South Course
Architect – Tom Bendelow (1915). Renovated by Steve Smyers (2007).
7,037 yards Par 70.
Front 9 – 3,640 yards (35) / Back 9 – 3,397 yards (35).
Course rating 75.5 / Slope Rating 147

The North Course is clearly the tougher and one can expect this to be reflected in the stroke play qualifying scores.

Olympia Fields Country Club – North Course

Weather Forecast (as at 12.00 Noon 16th August 2015)
Mon 17th August – Mostly Clear. Wind 5 mph (E). Temp. Max. 33°C / Min 19°C.
Tues 18th August – Thundery. Wind 10 mph (N). Temp. Max. 31°C / Min 19°C.
Weds 19th August – Thundery. Wind 8 mph (NE). Temp. Max. 28°C / Min 20°C.
Thurs 20th August – Cloudy. Wind 15 mph (NE). Temp. Max. 26°C / Min 14°C.
Fri 21st August – Clear. Wind 8 mph (NE). Temp. Max. 26°C / Min 14°C.
Sat 22nd August – Sunny. Wind 5mph (N). Temp. Max. 29°C / Min 16°C.
Sun 23rd August – Thundery. Wind 5mph (N). Temp. Max. 26°C / Min 19°C.

Event Coverage
News and score links will be available from the USGA’s website – U.S. Amateur Championship Home Page.

Twitter – @USGA / #USAmateur

Fox Sports are televising the match play stage of the Championship in the United States and Sky Sports will be picking up this feed, probably on the red button if there is no GB&I interest, between Thursday 20th and Sunday 23rd.

Prizes
The 2015 U.S. Amateur Champion will receive the following: –

a) A Gold Medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the ensuing year.
b) An exemption to play in the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont C.C.
c) An exemption to play in the 2016 Open Championship at Royal Troon G.C.
d) A likely invitation to play in the 2016 Masters at Augusta National G.C.
e) An exemption to play in the 2016 – 2025 U.S. Amateurs; and no doubt
f) Invitations to play in a variety of European Tour and PGA Tour competitions.

A Silver Medal is awarded to the runner-up and Bronze Medals to the two semi-finalists.

The USGA’s 2015 U.S. Amateur Infographic

Championship History
The U.S. Amateur is the oldest golf championship in America and this will be its 115th playing. It was first played in 1895, the winner being Charles B. Macdonald.

It has always been decided by match play save for an 8 year period between 1965 and 1972 when the winner was determined solely by stroke play.

Former US winners include Jerome Travers (1907-08-12-13), Bobby Jones (1924-25-27-28-30), Francis Ouimet (1914-31), Arnold Palmer (1954), Jack Nicklaus (1959-61), Deane Beman (1960-63), Lanny Wadkins (1970), Craig Stadler (1973), Mark O’Meara (1979), Hal Sutton (1980), Phil Mickelson (1990), Justin Leonard (1992), Tiger Woods (1994-95-96), Matt Kucher (1997) and Peter Uihlein (2010).

British players have won the Championship on six occasions but just twice in the last 100 years – H.J. Whigham (1896-97), Findlay Douglas (1898), Harold Hilton (1911), Richie Ramsay (2006) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (2013). Italy’s Edoardo Molinari (2005) is the only mainland European to have lifted the Havemeyer Trophy.

In something of a shock last year South Korea’s Gunn Yang won the title beating Canada’s Corey Conners 2 and 1 in the final. He became the second Korean to win the Championship, following in the footsteps of Byeong-Hun An in 2009, the youngest ever winner at just 17 years old. An of course is now making a name for himself in the professional ranks and last May won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. Yang is defending his title this week, hoping to become the first man since Tiger Woods to retain the U.S. Amateur.

Gunn Yang – the 2014 U.S. Amateur Champion (Photo: USGA)

ME.

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