TULSA, Okla. – Texas A&M men’s coach J.T. Higgins had to deal with a nerve-wracking finish – remember Bronson Burgoon’s walk-off wedge shot? – before getting to enjoy his team’s NCAA title. None made him as nervous as he was Aug. 18, though.
That’s when Higgins threw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game as part of Aggies Night at the Ballpark at Arlington.
“In all honesty, I was more nervous going to throw out the first pitch,” Higgins said. “I have a lot more confidence in Bronson than in myself. It’d been about 25 years since I’d thrown a pitch.”
Higgins had a “pretty mediocre” two-year baseball career at Eastern Oregon, where he also played basketball.
For the record, Higgins’ pitch was a little low. “But I call it a strike. It was over the plate,” Higgins said.
– Sean Martin Posted August 23
VIDEO: Finals highlights.
VIDEO: Chatting with sports broadcaster Joe Buck. U.S. Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci got his first look -- as a unit -- at the eight team members when the group met for a practice session last week at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.
The Walker Cup, a biennial event against Great Britain & Ireland, will be Sept. 13-14 at Merion, Marucci’s home club.
“I’m very pleased with the way it all went,” said Marucci, who guided the U.S. to victory in his first stint as captain two years ago in Ireland. “Everyone got along and seemed to reach out to each other. And, they all loved the golf course.”
The group played two rounds of foursomes (alternate shot) and two rounds of singles, with one of the scheduled singles rounds getting rained out.
“There was no particular order as far as who was paired together or who played against each other,” Marucci said. “The main objective for this session was for the guys to relax and get a feel for the golf course. From that standpoint, we feel we accomplished what we wanted to do.”
Merion is a tough course to play from the rough, Marucci said.
“Hopefully they left here realizing that accuracy is more important than distance out here.”
The USGA will announce the final two members of this year’s team after the U.S. Amateur Championship, Aug. 24-30, at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.
– Ron Balicki Posted Aug. 20
Pairings for the U.S. Amateur were released today. Here are some notable starting times:
• Walker Cup hopeful Dan Woltman will tee off alongside team member Morgan Hoffmann at 7:30 a.m. in the first group off No. 1 at Southern Hills. Former Oklahoma assistant Phillip Bryan, who made the semifinals at this year’s U.S. Amateur Public Links at the University of Oklahoma Golf Club, is the group’s third member.
• When Buddy Marucci tees off at 9:30 a.m. from Cedar Ridge’s 10th tee with Jose Toledo and Kyle Kopsick, he’ll have a good view of a player he probably wishes was eligiblie for the Walker Cup - NCAA champ Matt Hill, who’s teeing off in the group ahead of him. Hill’s older brother, Graham, tees off one hour in front of him.
Teeing off at 9:10 a.m. from Cedar Ridge’s 10th hole are U.S. Amateur Public Links champ Brad Benjamin and Aaron Stewart, the son of Payne Stewart.
• Two players vying for spots on the U.S. Walker Cup team – Bronson Burgoon and Wesley Bryan – will tee off with Brett Kelpin at 1:55 p.m. off of Cedar Ridge’s 10th tee. Two other Walker Cup hopefuls, Peter Uihlein and Cameron Tringale, tee off at 1:05 and 1:15, respectively, off of Cedar Ridge’s first hole.
• Cameron Peck, the 2008 U.S. Junior champ, will play alongside last year’s medalist, Robbie Fillmore, and Christopher Marsh at 2:35 p.m. off of Cedar Ridge’s 10th tee. Rickie Fowler, playing his final U.S. Amateur, is in the group ahead of them.
– Sean Martin Posted Aug. 19
Canada’s top two amateurs, Matt Hill and Nick Taylor, tied at the Canadian Men’s Amateur Aug. 13, but for third place (along with Mackenzie Hughes). They were eight back of Eastern Michigan senior Cam Burke, who successfully defended his title with a score of 13-under 275. Mitch Sutton, winner of the past two Canadian Juniors, finished one shot back.
Sutton is an incoming freshman at North Carolina State, where he’ll team with Hill, this year’s NCAA champ.
• Brad Benjamin already won the U.S. Amateur Public Links and Illinois Open this summer, but bogeyed his final hole Aug. 13 to finish one shot behind winner Luke Guthrie at the Illinois Amateur. Guthrie birdied Nos. 14, 16 and 17 at Bloomington (Ill.) Country Club to shoot 65 and match the low round of the tournament.
• Daniela Lendl, 16, won the Connecticut Women’s Amateur this week by 14 shots, including a course-record 68 in the second round at H. Smith Richardson Golf Course in Fairfield, Conn. Lendl is No. 47 in the Golfweek/Titleist Junior Rankings.
– Sean Martin Posted Aug. 14
U.S. Amateur qualifying ended Tuesday. Here are some more highlights:
• Peter Uihlein, 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links runner-up Cody Paladino and William Hadden tied for medalist honors at 4-under 140 and earned the three spots at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford, Conn. All three shot in the 60s in the second round – Paladino and Uihlein fired 68, while Hadden had a 69 – to advance.
• TCU’s Tom Hoge shot 134 at Fargo (N.D.) Country Club to win by nine shots and grab the only qualifying spot. Hoge ties Illinois’ Luke Guthrie for largest winning margin at a sectional qualifier. Guthrie shot 128 (64-64) at Arrowhead Country Club in Edelstein, Ill.
• Robbie Fillmore, last year’s U.S. Amateur medalist, shot 139 at Alpine Country Club in Highland, Utah, then advanced in a three-for-two playoff. Jeff Evans was medalist.
• Sunnehanna Amateur champ Kevin Foley shot 149 at The Ridge at Back Brook to grab the third and final qualifying spot. Foley’s 149 was the highest qualifying score this year. Chris Scialo was medalist at 145, followed by Anthony Aloi at 147.
• Michael Sorenson finished second behind Walker Cup hopeful Dan Woltman at the Kenosha (Wis.) Country Club qualifier. Sorenson, who will play for Wisconsin this year, won the Wisconsin Junior by 10 shots just five days earlier.
– Sean Martin Posted Aug. 12
Two candidates for the final two spots on the U.S. Walker Cup team had U.S. Amateur qualifying on Monday. Dan Woltman shot 4-under 136 (69-67) at Kenosha (Wis.) Country Club to earn medalist honors by four shots. Mike McCoy came up two shots short at Des Moines Golf & Country Club, shooting 3-over 147 (77-70).
It was still a good day for the McCoy family, as Mike’s son Nate, a sophomore at Iowa State, grabbed the third and final qualifying spot. It will be Nate McCoy’s first U.S. Amateur appearance.
Jonathan Fly, the son of former PGA Tour player Buzz Fly, earned medalist honors by six shots, shooting 6-under 138 (71-67).
– Sean Martin Posted Aug. 11
While most of the country’s top amateurs were at the Western Amateur last week, Mark Anderson was in South Carolina, trying one last time to win his home state’s amateur championship.
Anderson was successful, shooting 16-under 272 (71-64-67-70) at Berkeley Hall Plantation in Bluffton, S.C., to win by six shots.
“It’s a tournament I’ve been playing every year since I was 15,” Anderson said. “I’ve watched Lucas (Glover) and D.J. (Trahan) win theirs. It was just something that I’ve always wanted to win. ... To do it on my last try is really special.
“I thought about playing the Western, ... because it’s a big event and it’s important for the Walker Cup, but my heart really was with the state championship. I wouldn’t be where I am today without coming up through their great junior program.”
Sunday may have been bittersweet for Anderson, though. On the same day as his victory, the first eight selections for the U.S. Walker Cup team were announced. Anderson was not one of the picks.
Anderson was proud of the way he handled a rough start to Sunday’s round. He began the day with a four-shot lead, but was tied with Josh Gallman after making bogeys on Nos. 4 and 5. Anderson birdied the sixth, then made birdie on three of the final five holes.
He will have one last chance at the U.S. Amateur to impress the Walker Cup selectors and try to earn one of the final two spots. He qualified Aug. 3-4 at Amelia River Golf Club in Amelia Island, Fla. Anderson hit a 9-iron within tap-in range on the first hole of a 4-for-2 playoff to make birdie and earn a spot at Southern Hills.
“I’m just going to have a lot of fun and prepare really hard for the Am,” Anderson said.
– Sean Martin Posted Aug. 10
How’d you like to have a U.S. Walker Cup team member on your bag? Scott Miller will today as he plays a U.S. Amateur sectional qualifier at The Ridges at Back Brook in Ringoes, N.J. Morgan Hoffmann, who was named to the Walker Cup team just 24 hours earlier, is looping 36 holes in one day for his old Ramapo High School teammate.
Miller, who plays for Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, already qualified for this year’s U.S. Amateur Public Links. He shot 80-77 at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club to miss the cut.
Hoffmann is exempt into the U.S. Amateur by virtue of his quarterfinal appearance last year at Pinehurst.
– Sean Martin Posted Aug. 10
Missouri’s golf program experienced a week of extraordinary highs and lows.
Peter Malnati’s victory in the Tennessee State Amateur was tempered by a death in the Tigers’ golf family.
Mickey Fisher, 55, whose son Ryne recently completed his eligibility, died of a heart attack Aug. 5 in Clarksville, Tenn. Two days later, Malnati made his acceptance speech at the Honors Course in Ooltewah and acknowledged the conflicting emotions.
“I had high expectations and put a lot of pressure on myself to perform,” Malnati, 22, told Golfweek by phone from his home in Dandridge. “I got a little nervy, just thinking about the Fishers.”
Malnati graduated this spring with a 3.992 GPA, his only “blemish” being an A-minus in an American history class as a junior. He acknowledged the Fisher family after posting a 12-under 276 to hold off runner-up Tim Jackson (69–280) and third-place Adam Mitchell (76–283).
“I was hoping that at least it would make him smile to look down and see a Missouri Tiger holding the trophy.”
Mizzou coach Mark Leroux, driving west on Interstate 24 after Fisher’s funeral in Clarksville, fought his emotions as he recalled a friend of the Tigers program.
“The wins don’t seem as good,” Leroux said, “and the losses seem worse. That’s probably the way I’m feeling right now.”
Leroux had come to know Fisher as a man whom “we all want to be like.”
“He is so infectious, so positive,” Leroux said. “Everybody who came in contact with Mickey absolutely loved him, or they didn’t know him.”
Fisher recently retired after 33 years as an educator in the Fort Campbell (Ky.) schools, where he coached basketball. He was instrumental in starting the Clarksville Junior Golf Tour in a city with a strong golf tradition.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorial contributions be made to the Clarksville Junior Golf Tour or the Craig Rudolph Memorial Golf Tournament, 1708 Merritt Drive, Clarksville, TN 37043.
– Steve Harmon Posted Aug. 9
ST. LOUIS – Well, 18 holes later we’re back where we started. All
square. Jennifer Song and Jennifer Johnson each have a table reserved
downstairs for lunch. (Though I have seen players eat together right
after a hard-fought USGA match.)
Johnson three-putted the 18th
hole to bring the match back to all square. Song hit a beautiful bunker
shot on the last to salvage par. The USC sophomore was 4 down through
10 holes but slowly chipped away.
And that folks, is why they play 36.
– Beth Ann Baldry Posted Aug. 9
VIDEO: Highlights from the semifinals.
VIDEO: Asher Wildman’s Take 5 from Saturday at Old Warson. ST. LOUIS –The crowds at Old Warson Country Club were pretty good for a semifinal round, especially considering today’s heat index.
Heard in the Thompson/Johnson gallery: “I’m cheering for whoever I can outdrive.”
– Beth Ann Baldry Posted Aug. 8
VIDEO:Asher Wildman chats with the semifinalists.
Take 5: Asher Wildman on the U.S. Women’s Am semifinalists. Here’s a stat from the department of ridiculousness:
Jennifer Johnson has not trailed in 76 holes of match play at the Women’s Am. In that span, she has had the outright lead for 68 holes.
If Johnson manages to beat Jennifer Song – a match-play powerhouse – in tomorrow's final with that streak intact, it could go down as one of the more astounding feats in recent Women’s Am history.
Can you say “Tigeresque?” – Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 8
For the second time in two weeks, there is a new No. 1 in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Amateur Rankings. Rickie Fowler of Murrieta, Calif., who held the top spot for six weeks earlier this year, is once again No. 1 after his runner-up finish in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Classic. Nick Taylor of Canada, who finished T-34 in the same tournament, fell to No. 2, while England’s Luke Goddard moved up to No. 3 after winning his country’s national championship over the weekend.
Two Walker Cup hopefuls made the long trip from the east coast to play in the Pacific Coast Amateur, and both improved their chances. Zack Sucher of Mobile, Ala., finished runner-up and moved to World No. 8, while Mark Anderson of Beaufort, S.C., finished tied for third and moved to World No. 14.
Major movers:
• Walker Cup contender Morgan Hoffmann of Saddle Brook, N.J., finished T-8 in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Classic to move to World No. 27.
• Jordan Sherratt of Australia beat Dylan Frittelli of South Africa to win the Barrett Amateur in Canada, moving Sherratt to World No. 41 and Frittelli to World No. 31.
• Jurrian van der Vaart of The Netherlands scored a seven-shot win in the Netherlands National Stroke Play to move to World No. 44.
• Chan Kim of Chandler, Ariz., held off Sucher and Anderson to win the Pacific Coast Amateur and move to World No. 74.
• David Law of Scotland beat Paul O’Hara (world No. 34) to win the Scottish Amateur Championship to move to World No. 201.
• Robert Cannon of Ireland won the South of Ireland Championship to move to World No. 509.
• Luke Thomas of Wales beat Rhys Enoch (world No. 68) to win the Welsh Amateur Championship to move to World No. 543.
ST. LOUIS – Han Jungeun gets my award for best celebration this week. Jungeun unleashed a fantastic fist pump that looked more like something she learned in Taekwondo. And there was volume. Both Jungeun and her father let out a scream when she dropped a birdie on top of Alexis Thompson on the 16th hole.
It’s no secret that Korean players are rather stoic inside the ropes, barely making a sound.
LPGA players, take note of Jungeun. She knows how to make it interesting.
– Beth Ann Baldry Posted Aug. 7
ST. LOUIS – Alexis Thompson has a chance to make history as the youngest player to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur at 14 years, 5 months and 30 days. Kimberly Kim holds the record at 14 years, 11 months and 21 days.
Whatever happens over the weekend, we know a teenager will hoist trophy. Teens have won four of the last five Amateur titles.
– Beth Ann Baldry Posted Aug. 7
VIDEO: Take 5: Asher Wildman recaps the Round of 16. ST. LOUIS – Jennifer Song is trying to become only the second player in USGA history to win both the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the WAPL in the same year. Pearl Sinn accomplished the feat in 1988.
Song faces UCLA sophomore Stephanie Kono in tomorrow’s quarterfinal match. This is Kono’s 16th USGA event and third Women’s Amateur. – Beth Ann Baldry Posted Aug. 6 ST. LOUIS – Jennifer Song, winner of the WAPL and low amateur at the U.S. Women’s Open, is becoming a USGA giant.
When
I met her two years ago in Korea, she captained the Korean national
team. Today, U.S. Curtis Cup captain Noreen Mohler was out watching her
play. Song has dual citizenship and enough game to lead two nations.
What a story. – Beth Ann Baldry Posted Aug. 6
ST. LOUIS – Candace
Schepperle suffered a slow-play penalty on the par-3 11th, resulting in
loss of hole. Schepperle was 4 up at the time and still managed to end
her match against Molly Aronsson in quick fashion, winning 4 and 3.
– Beth Ann Baldry Posted Aug. 6
ST.
LOUIS — The day’s most compelling story fell short in the drama
department as Jennifer Song did away with her good friend and USC
teammate Lizette Salas, 4 and 2, in the Round of 32.
Song was nearly flawless with her putter as she had just eight putts through the first eight holes and built a 3-up lead.
This year’s Women’s Publinx champ won Nos. 15 and 16 to close out the match and send her friend packing.
“It was very tough,” Song said about playing Salas, “but you’re supposed to have a winner at the end of the match.
“I was rooting for her inside.”
Song
said the two didn’t share any poignant words after the match, but she
said she’ll speak to Salas when they both get back to school.
Song,
who is trying to become the second player to win the WAPL and Women's
Am in the same year since Pearl Sinn in 1988, will face the winner of
the Cydney Clanton-Nannette Hill match. Clanton is currently 1-up
through 15 holes.
– Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 6
ST. LOUIS — It’s an exhausted old adage, but nothing really describes match play better than “expect the unexpected.”
Victoria Tanco was introduced to that harsh reality in her Round-of-32 match against Korean Han Jungeun.
The
Argentine fought back from a 3-down deficit and squared the match when
Jungeun – who had a 1-up lead at the time – inexplicably went for the
par-5 16th in two. She found water and lost the hole.
Momentum
surging in her favor, Tanco hit her tee shot at the par-3 17th to 35
feet while Jungeun found a greenside bunker and blasted out to 20 feet.
Tanco
raced her putt by 10 feet, and in a crippling blow to Tanco, Jungeun
followed by holing her improbable par putt. A rattled Tanco missed her
comebacker, surrendering the lead to Jungeun again.
Tanco stood
on the 18th tee, muttering in Spanish to her caddie, Angel Monguzzi,
who also serves as Vicente Fernandez’s caddie on the Champions Tour.
When Tanco’s birdie putt on the 18th came up short by a half-revolution, her fate was sealed.
Monguzzi,
a friend of Tanco’s family, said he had experienced much worse in his
years as a caddie, but he felt for his 15-year-old employer.
Tanco, No. 3 in the Golfweek/Titleist Junior Rankings, lost in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Girls’ Junior last month.
– Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 6
ST. LOUIS — I’ve lived in Orlando for close to two years and have yet to go to Disney World, Universal, or Sea World.
Australian
Stacey Keating played a few events in the United Kingdom, and before
she headed to the U.S. Women’s Open (as a spectator), Keating had four
or five days to kill before heading to Saucon Valley.
She
decided to take a little detour to Orlando and do the whole “Disney
thing,” as she called it. Keating, along with two other Australian
teammates, spent two days at Disney, and then added another bonus to
the trip.
Keating and the others managed to get on at Bay Hill
and then took a trip around the corner to Tiger’s place over at
Isleworth. They decided to play the Tiger tees (farthest back) and
struggled to break 85.
“We hit maybe one iron into a par 4,” she said.
As
for how she got on at Bay Hill, Keating said she had written a letter
to them saying she would wait three weeks at the gates to meet Arnold
Palmer. When that didn’t work, she called them and managed to get on
the venerable track. No Arnie, though.
Seems there are a lot of things I’m missing out on.
– Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 6 ST. LOUIS — Major props to Mallory Fraiche.
Fraiche
somehow managed to smile after suffering a loss in one of two – that’s
right, two – 25-hole matches in the round of 64 yesterday.
“This is one of the toughest,” Fraiche said afterward.
Fraiche,
a soon-to-be senior at Arkansas-Little Rock, lost when Jodi Ewart sank
a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 seventh hole. What made the loss
especially brutal was that Fraiche had a chance to close out the match
on the previous hole with a 3-footer for birdie. She said she had had
the same putt earlier in the day and missed it that time, as well.
“I
take that I can grind it out. I take that I can get up-and-down and
make some big putts,” Fraiche said when asked what she takes out of
such a hard loss.
Fraiche likened the experience to a five-way
playoff in a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier that went to extra holes. She
qualified for the Open, where she missed the cut.
The other 25-hole match came when Taylore Karle managed to outlast Kendra Little.
– Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 6
Take 5: Asher Wildman on Day 3 of the U.S. Women’s Am. ST. LOUIS – I’m a Jessica Korda fan. Why? Because she’s a quote machine. She’s refreshingly honest, patient and perky.
After her first-round win over Sara Grantham, which ended on the 18th green, Korda talked about the advantages of having her father, Petr, on the bag.
“I can trust him,” Korda said. “He knows what I do under pressure. ... He knows a lot about golf.”
How much can a former tennis champ really know about golf? In the summers in Europe, Korda played off a scratch handicap even though he played only several months a year.
“He’s a fighter,” Jessica said. “He knows how to get the ball in the hole.”
So did Jessica inherit that trait?
“Yes, I think I did,” she said. “I sure hope I did.”
– Beth Ann Baldry Posted Aug. 5
ST. LOUIS – No one likes to go home early. But Lee Lopez surely wanted this event to last as long as possible. The 19-year-old decided to transfer from Long Beach State to UCLA last spring but didn’t get a release from her athletic director. She’ll be forced to sit out this year in Los Angeles.
“I really don’t see where he was coming from,” said Lopez of her AD’s decision.
– Beth Ann Baldry Posted Aug. 5
ST. LOUIS — There are a few interesting match-ups in the first round.
Kimberly
Kim vs. Maude-Aimee Leblanc strikes me as one to watch. Kim, a USGA
amateur championship veteran, will have her hands full with Leblanc,
who finished her year at Purdue ranked 19th in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.
Candace
Schepperle finished her year at Auburn ranked 5th in our rankings, but
she’ll have to handle the cameras and extra attention that come along
with playing Cheyenne Woods.
Jenny Shin and Tiffany Lua have
seen each other a bunch in junior golf as both are from California. I’m
curious to see if Shin, the 2006 U.S. Girls’ champ, can rebound from a
loss at this year’s U.S. Girls’ that seemed to hit her pretty hard.
Another
big first-round match is this year’s U.S. Girls’ champ Amy Anderson
against Auburn’s Cydney Clanton. Anderson is rapidly presenting herself
as a huge force in women’s amateur golf. If she can get past a strong
player like Clanton, a lot of people will take notice.
Not to
get too far ahead, but there is one possible second-round match that is
a definite must-see: Jennifer Song vs. Lizette Salas.
If the
two USC teammates win in the first round, they will meet in the second
round. How unfortunate is that? Two players at the tops of people’s
lists to win the championship have to face each other in the second
round. Brutal. – Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 5
ST.
LOUIS — Medalist Danielle Kang is following up her seven-birdie,
three-bogey performance in the second round of stroke-play qualifying
with an equally up-and-down first-round match against Amelia Lewis.
Lewis
took a 2-up lead through two holes but Kang fought back to not only
square the match but take a 2-up lead of her own through seven holes.
However, she lost the next two holes to go all square against Lewis.
Kang could have put herself in even more of a deficit on the tenth tee.
Kang
told Lewis that she was going to be switching golf balls. Lewis asked
her if it was the same type of golf ball, and Kang said it wasn’t.
Lewis informed Kang that that might be against USGA rules, and Kang,
who appeared to have no idea of such a rule, called over the rules
official.
He informed both that Kang could not use a different type of golf ball. Kang then teed off with a conforming ball.
I
spoke to the official, and he said that for all USGA competitions, they
choose to enact the one-ball rule which says a player may not switch
types of golf balls in a round.
If Kang had teed off with the
different ball, she would have automatically lost the hole and gone
1-down. In stroke-play, it’s a two-stroke penalty.
Essentially, Lewis did Kang a huge favor by telling Kang about the rule.
– Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 5
VIDEO: Curtis Cup captain Noreen Mohler mixes it up at the Women’s Amateur
Take 5: Asher Wildman checks in from Rd. 2 of the U.S. Women’s Am.
Take 5: Asher Wildman checks in from Rd. 1 of the U.S. Women’s Am.
PODCAST: Walker Cup Countdown – Who’s a lock?
Some more highlights from U.S. Amateur qualifying:
• A couple Walker Cup candidates had to survive playoffs to get to Southern Hills:
Mike Van Sickle shot 146 Aug. 3 at Coldstream Country Club in Cincinnati, then beat Peter O’Neill in a playoff, to earn a spot at Southern Hills. Van Sickle was in Ohio after missing the cut by a shot at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitaitonal in Columbus.
Mark Anderson shot 138 (70-68) on Aug. 3-4 to get in a four-for-two playoff at Amelia River Golf Club in Amelia Island, Fla. He prevailed over Chris Johnson, who shot a second-round 63, and J.C. Horne. Brad Sill of Spartanburg, S.C., also advanced.
Another Walker Cup candidate, Nathan Smith, shot 134 July 30 to beat incoming Duke freshman Brinson Paolini by two shots at Sinking Valley Country Club in Altoona, Pa. Both players earned a trip to Southern Hills.
Wesley Bryan shot 140 Aug. 3-4 to advance at The Standard Club in Duluth, Ga.
• Payne Stewart’s son, Aaron, qualified for the U.S. Amateur Tuesday, shooting 66-75 Aug. 3-4 at Shingle Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Fla.
• Incoming Oklahoma State freshman Kevin Dougherty shot 134 (66-68) Aug. 3 to win his qualifier at Pauma Valley (Calif.) Country Club by five strokes. Dougherty won the Southern California and California high-school titles earlier this year.
• Carlos Velez of Miami shot a tournament-low 67 Aug. 4 in the second round of a qualifier at The Club at Emerald Hills in Hollywood, Fla., then beat Curtis Thompson in a playoff to earn the third and final spot. Thompson is siblings with PGA Tour player Nicholas Thompson and Alexis Thompson. Gary Nicklaus shot 146 to miss by three shots.
– Sean Martin Posted Aug. 4
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Talk about a blast from the past.
That’s what I encountered while walking through the Conway Farms Golf Club clubhouse during the first round Tuesday in the 107th Western Amateur Championship.
There, sitting at a table in the lunch area, sat Mark McCumber and his son Tyler.
It has to be 15 or so years since I last saw the elder McCumber and watched him play as a regular performer on the PGA Tour. In fact, I first met Mark back in the 1970s at the Pensacola Open while working at the daily newspaper in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
It was fun spending some time chatting and catching up on things. Mark is in the process of completing a renovation to a course in West Palm Beach, Fla.
This week, though, his job description is simple – caddying for Tyler, who will be a freshman this fall at Florida, Mark’s alma mater.
“Well, I haven’t been fired yet,” Mark said with a laugh. “So I guess that’s a good thing. However, the way Tyler’s been hitting it off the tee, I might be better off being a forecaddie for him.
“But this is a great golf course and a tough one,” he said. “You really have to keep it in play and Tyler struggled (7-over-par 78) with that today. Hopefully, we’ll come back tomorrow and get it together.” – Ron Balicki Posted Aug. 4
ST. LOUIS — One of the most impressive – but somewhat unknown in the U.S. – players at last year's Women's Am was Australian Stephanie Na.
Na, along with eventual champion Amanda Blumenherst, wrapped up stroke-play medalist honors at Eugene (Ore.) Country Club. She was beaten by Azahara Munoz in the quarterfinals. At the time, Na was the No. 1-ranked female amateur in Australia.
I did a little digging and it turns out Na is now on the Ladies European Tour. She turned pro in January and earned conditional status on the LET. In five LET starts this year, her best finish is a tie for third at the SAS Ladies Masters last month.
The 20-year-old has a lot of time left to develop herself as a pro. Good luck, mate.
– Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 4
ST. LOUIS — It's easy to lose sight of how tough a course is once match play begins, so it's worth mentioning the damage that Old Warson is doing to this year's field.
The first-round scoring average came in at 77.30. The par-35 front-nine scoring average was 38.10 and the par-36 back-nine average was 39.19.
The second-round leader in the clubhouse is Tiffany Lua, whose 36-hole, even-par 142 total is the only score in the clubhouse at par or better.
Old Warson is playing a beefy 6,422 yards for a par-71 track. This is a USGA championship, after all.
– Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 4
ST. LOUIS — Jennifer Song may have been a little worried after her first-round, 4-over 75, but this year's U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links champ should be in the clear with a 36-hole total of 4-over 146.
Still, an uncooperative driver has plagued Song her past few events, and through two rounds of the Women's Am, a drop-kick, pop-up tee ball continues to frustrate her.
"I'm not going to worry about it too much, though," said Song. "I just have to get the ball in the hole. That's all that matters."
Helping her get the ball in the hole is her dad, Museok, who was on the bag for her Publinx title and has been her looper for the entire summer.
"Without me saying anything, he knows how I feel about a certain shot," said Song. "He's a good caddie, but everyone says he's a really good caddie."
Either way, it's better than hauling your own bag for 36 holes.
– Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 4
ST. LOUIS — Without hole-by-hole live scoring for the stroke-play portion of the U.S. Women's Amateur, it's very tough to tell where the 64-player, match-play cut will fall.
Old Warson Country Club is playing tough, and judging by the few players who have finished, not many scores will likely improve from Round 1.
Alexis Thompson, last year's U.S. Girls' Junior champ, has just a sliver of experience (joke) in USGA match-play championships. She estimated the cut is likely to double from Round 1, and if the wind were to pick up, you might as well add a stroke to that.
Thompson – who currently sits in a tie for 76th at 8-over 150 – could be onto something with her arithmetic. At last year's Women's Am, there was a 14-way tie for 56th at 4-over 76 after the first round, and the cut eventually fell at 8-over 152.
At the end of first-round play, there was a 15-way tie for 57th at 5-over 76 which included Thompson. If the cut falls at 10-over, Harvard may step up their recruiting and take a peek at Thompson.
– Ray McCarthy Posted Aug. 4
Jennifer Song loves USGA championships. Coming from this year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links winner, that’s not really a surprise.
However, how much she loves them will depend on whether or not she’s hoisting the U.S. Women’s Amateur trophy August 9. All eyes will be on Song at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, Mo., as she enters the event as one of the hottest players in women’s amateur golf.
“I know I’m working hard with my game,” Song told me over the phone after she had just finished 18 at Old Warson. “Mentally, I’m really confident with my game.”
That confidence was shattered in May when Song double-bogeyed the 72nd hole to lose the NCAA Women’s Championship by one. However, Song has since been on the mend and with her WAPL victory, the Golfweek College Player of the Year is primed heading into the Women’s Am.
“That really brought my confidence up,” Song said of her WAPL win. “Everything is just going well right now, and hopefully it will keep going well.”
If it’s a USGA event, there’s a good chance it will for Song.
– Ray McCarthy Posted July 31
The University of Iowa’s Bradley George made holes-in-one in consecutive days at the Iowa Amateur. In Tuesday’s second round, he used an 8-iron on the par-3 eighth hole at Sunnyside Country Club to make the first ace of his life. Twenty-four hours later, he holed a 6-iron on No. 13 in the final round.
George finished 17th at 4-over 220 (78-71-71).
Iowa State senior-to-be Ben Herrera shot a tournament-record 202 (64-68-70) to win by 10 shots over Walker Cup candidate Mike McCoy.
– Sean Martin Posted July 30
Brad Benjamin, the U.S. Amateur Public Links champ, scored another upset this summer. Benjamin beat Mike Small in a playoff to win the Illinois Open Wednesday at Hawthorn Woods (Ill.) Country Club. Small, the men’s golf coach at Illinois, won this year’s PGA Professional National Championship and is a four-time Illinois Open champ.
The two went to a three-hole playoff after finishing regulation tied at 5-under 208. Benjamin and Small made pars on the first two extra holes. Benjamin’s approach on the final hole found the green, while Small pulled his shot into rocks left of the green.
With his feet 8 inches above the ball, Small played a ricochet off the face of the rock he was standing on. His ball came to rest 12 feet from the hole, but he missed the par putt after Benjamin two-putted for par.
Benjamin, of Rockford, Ill., beat Nick Taylor in the final of the U.S. Amateur Public Links; Taylor, the No. 1 player in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Amateur Rankings, was the tournament medalist and easily won his first five matches before Benjamin beat him, 7 and 6.
– Sean Martin Posted July 30
Talk about a stacked field for a U.S. Amateur qualifier. Here’s the five who advanced out of Columbia Country Club in Blythewood, S.C. – Charlotte All-American Corey Nagy; two-time Monroe Invitational champ Phillip Mollica; Oklahoma freshman-to-be Davis Lee; Dogwood Invitational champ Brian Harman and former University of Georgia player Michael Green.
It took a score of 5-under 137 on the 7,095-yard, par-71 layout to earn a spot at Southern Hills. Georgia’s Harris English shot 139, and all that earned him was the second alternate position.
– Sean Martin Posted July 30
Tuesday was a busy day for U.S. Amateur qualifying. Here’s a round-up of notable results from around the country.
• Several players dominated their qualifiers. The University of Illinois’ Luke Guthrie shot 16-under 128 (64-64) at Arrowhead Country Club in Edelstein, Ill., to win by nine shots.
Bryce Hanstad, of Alexandria, Minn., shot 136 at Edina (Minn.) Country Club to win by eight shots. Hanstad is a senior-to-be at Colorado State.
Dodge Kemmer, who completed his eligibility at Stanford earlier this year, shot 134 to win by seven at Tallgrass Country Club in his hometown of Wichita, Kan.
• Erik Flores’ bid to make the Walker Cup team took a serious hit when he lost in a playoff to Matthew Hansen, who'll be a freshman at UC Davis in 2010, at Brookside Country Club in Stockton, Calif.
• Stanford’s Jordan Cox (137) and Joseph Bramlett (138) swept the top two spots at Peninsula Golf & Country Club. The score would indicate that Bramlett is healthy after dealing with injuries over the past couple years. If Cox and Bramlett are in form this season, Stanford is a national-title contender.
• David Chung, the North & South Amateur champ, made it three current Stanford players to qualify for the Amateur this week. Chung finished at 140 at Colgate University Seven Oaks Golf Club in Hamilton, N.Y.; his Stanford teammate, Sihwan Kim, lost in a playoff at the site, which featured several players from the recently-completed Porter Cup.
– Sean Martin Posted July 29
ORLANDO, Fla. – Bud Cauley finished at 10-under 134 to earn medalist honors at the U.S. Amateur qualifier at Rio Pinar Country Club.
Cauley was unable to play a practice round because he was in upstate New York last week, playing in the Porter Cup. After a first-round 67 at Niagara Falls Country Club, Cauley closed with 76-73 to tie for 55th.
“It was definitely nice to come here and play well to get a little momentum before (the Western Amateur),” he said.
With Walker Cup selections drawing near, Cauley is trying to regain some momentum.
– D.J. Piehowski Posted July 28
ORLANDO, Fla. - Former Clemson player Sam Saunders will be turning pro after the summer, but he still has some amateur obligations.
Saunders, the grandson of Arnold Palmer, went 69-70 at the U.S. Amateur qualifier at Rio Pinar Country Club to qualify for his fifth U.S. Am, which will be held Aug. 24-30 at Southern Hills.
No word on what he has planned for his professional career, but Saunders will play in the Western Amateur before his trip to Southern Hills.
“I just want to really focus on my last amateur tournaments,” Saunders said. “And then we’ll take it from there.”
As for Grandpa Arnie’s 80th birthday celebration, Saunders said he knew there were big plans, but he wasn’t sure what exactly they were.
“I probably won’t be around for it, but I know they are certainly making quite a deal.”
– D.J. Piehowski Posted July 28 Aaron Stewart (SMU), Travis Wadkins (Wake Forest) and Olin Browne Jr. (Pepperdine) are all the children of PGA Tour players that are competing in the collegiate and amateur circuits. One PGA Tour progeny that gets less attention is Gunner Wiebe, who plays for the University of San Diego. His father, Mark, is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.
Gunner Wiebe earned medalist honors Monday with an impressive performance at a U.S. Amateur qualifier at Ptarmigan Country Club in Fort Collins, Colo. Wiebe shot a course-record 63 – including a hole-out with an 8-iron from 164 yards – to shoot 13-under 131 and finish five shots ahead of Stanford All-American Steve Ziegler. Scott Harrington, a 37-year-old financial adviser, earned the third qualifying spot
Wiebe finished 70th in this year’s NCAA Championship, including a final-round 69 at historic Inverness, to help the Toreros to a 13th-place finish as a team.
– Sean Martin Posted July 28
PODCAST: Brendan Gielow on winning the Porter Cup
If Brendan Gielow was not on your list as a top prospect for selection to this year’s U.S. Walker Cup team, put him there. Now.
Gielow isn’t a household name like Brian Harman, Morgan Hoffmann or Drew Weaver. But this senior-to-be at Wake Forest has the credentials – and game – to be included with those players.
Gielow’s latest title came Saturday when he won a three-way playoff with a chip-in birdie to capture the prestigious Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, N.Y.
And since the USGA says it looks at a player’s record over the previous two years, let’s not forget Gielow won the 2008 Northeast Amateur with a tournament-record performance.
His Porter Cup win is the topper on an already impressive year.
Gielow, 21, of Muskegon, Mich., tied for seventh at the Jones Cup in February and this summer tied for ninth at the Sunnehanna Amateur. He also tied for 12th at the Monroe Invitational, tied for ninth at the Northeast Am and was 10th at the Southern Am.
That list alone makes him a good candidate for Walker Cup selection.
In fact, I’ll take it one step further. What Gielow has accomplished merits inclusion on America’s 10-man team that will face Great Britain & Ireland Sept. 9-10 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. – Ron Balicki Posted July 27
Former Michigan State player Jimmy Chestnut regained his amateur status last year. Now he’ll get a second chance to compete against PGA Tour players, this time as a law-school student instead of an aspiring professional.
Last Friday, he received a sponsor exemption into this week’s Buick Open, according to MLive.com. Chestnut is a member at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club, the tournament’s host course.
Chestnut is scheduled to complete law school at Michigan State in December. He’s also the reigning Golf Association of Michigan player of the year after winning the ‘08 Michigan Amateur and GAM Championship.
Chestnut, 27, also played in the ‘05 Buick Open, shortly after turning pro. He shot 83-73 to miss the cut.
“I'm going to try and slow things down,” Chestnut told MLive.com. “Everything went so fast the first time I played in it. This time, I'm going to hopefully keep my eyes open and enjoy it.
“I'm hoping it's a little different.” – Sean Martin Posted July 27
It’s been a pretty good July for a few college coaches on the playing side of the game.
On July 1, Illinois coach Mike Small captured the PGA of America’s Professional National Championship in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M. His one-shot victory not only earned him $75,000, but a spot in next month’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine Golf Club in Minnesota.
After advancing to the Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in Norman, Okla., Augusta State coach Josh Gregory qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship next month at Southern Hills Golf Club in Tulsa, Okla. Gregory tied for second in a qualifier at Capital City Club in Woodstock, Ga., with a 6-under-par 134 that featured an opening-round 64.
Also this week, San Diego coach Tim Mickelson, younger brother of PGA Tour star Phil Mickelson, showed he still has some game as he grabbed a share of the lead in the opening round of the prestigious Porter Cup at Niagara Falls Country Club in Lewiston, N.Y.
Mickelson made seven birdies, including five in his back-nine 30 for a 6-under 64. A quarterfinalist at the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and runner-up in the stroke play qualifying portion of last year’s U.S. Mid-Am, Mickelson guided the Toreros to a tie for 13th at the NCAA Championship in May, the school’s best finish ever.
Obviously these are among the coaches who can tell their players, do as I do – oh, yeah, and as I say!
– Ron Balicki Posted July 23
Play at the Porter Cup was cancelled Thursday due to “unplayable course conditions,” according to the tournament Web site.
The tournament committee also announced this week that “due to projected weather and course conditions,” Sunday will not be used for tournament play.
“At this point in time, the Committee anticipates a 54-hole tournament,” the site said.
Several U.S Walker Cup team hopefuls are also in the mix.
– Golfweek staff Posted July 23
Carl Spackler would be proud of this Cinderella story.
A former Niagara Falls Country Club groundskeeper is teeing it up at his old place of employment in this week’s Porter Cup.
John Edwards – no, not the former Democratic presidential candidate – spent two summers working as a groundskeeper at Niagara Falls Country Club. He’ll play in this year’s Porter Cup, which begins today, after shooting 3-under 67 in the Monday qualifier.
His chances of winning the event may not be as slim as Spackler’s odds at the Masters, but Edwards will have to face one of the toughest amateur fields of the year. Defending champion Adam Mitchell and ‘07 champ Brian Harman are among the entrants.
Edwards has tried to qualify for the Porter Cup every year since 2001, but had never broken par in the qualifying event until this year.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen,” Edwards said. “It was unexpected.”
– Sean Martin Posted July 22
Even though he left the tournament disappointed, U.S. Amateur Public Links runner-up Nick Taylor of Canada is the new World No. 1 in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Player Rankings. He’s also No. 1 in the R&A’s World Amateur Rankings.
Taylor,
a senior-to-be at Washington, was low amateur in the U.S. Open and won
the Sahalee Players Championship two weeks later.
• Brad Benjamin,
of Rockford, Ill., was unranked before the U.S. Amateur Public Links,
but debuts in the rankings at No. 166 after beating Taylor in the final
to earn a Masters invitation.
• Matteo Manassero of Italy
moved up to World No. 5 with a T-13 at the British Open. Just a
month ago, Manassero (at age 16) became the youngest-ever, and first
Italian winner of the British Amateur.
• A sixth-place finish at the Southern Amateur put Peter Uihlein
of Orlando, Fla., into the top 10 for the first time at World No. 8. He
appears to be peaking just in time for the Walker Cup selection
process.
• English Golf Union Order of Merit winner Dale Whitnell moved to World No. 12 with a win in the Tillman Trophy.
Rickie Fowler has announced he will play as a professional at the
Nationwide Tour’s Soboba Classic Oct. 1-4. It is the first event Fowler
has said he will play as a pro.
The event will be played at The Country Club at Soboba Springs in San
Jacinto, Calif., about 40 minutes from Fowler’s hometown of Murrieta.
The Soboba Classic is one of two events on this year’s Nationwide Tour
schedule with a $1 million purse (along with the Nationwide Tour
Championship).
Fowler, the No. 2 player in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com World Amateur Rankings, has said he will turn pro after the Walker Cup Sept. 12-13.
– Sean Martin
Posted July 19
Matt Hill continued his winning ways this past week with a seven-shot
victory in the Ontario Amateur Championship. Hill finished four rounds
at Craigowan Golf & Country Club at 14-under 270 (69-67-69-65).
The victory served as a nice tuneup for this week’s Canadian Open,
where Hill will be making his second PGA Tour start of the year. He
made the cut at Tiger Woods’ AT&T National.
Hill won eight times this past season at North Carolina State, including the NCAA Championship, and was Golfweek’s College Player of the Year.
Morgan Hoffmann, who finished No. 2 in the Golfweek/Sagarin
College Rankings behind Hill, also won this past week at the Arcola
Cup. Hoffmann shot consecutive 68s to beat former Duke player Michael
Quagliano in a playoff. Quagliano played in the ‘08 U.S. Open.
Hoffmann hit a pitching wedge to within inches of the hole on the first
hole of sudden-death after the players tied a three-hole aggregate
playoff.
– Sean Martin
Posted July 19
TURNBERRY, Scotland – Matteo Manassero would fit into any college program anywhere in the United States. In fact, college coaches would shift heaven and earth to recruit the 16-year-old Italian.
It ain’t gonna happen.
Manassero reiterated his desire to finish high school and turn professional.
The kid from Verona has three years left of high school before he hits the European Tour.
Whether he graduates might be a moot point. With a joint 13th place finish in the Open Championship and the silver medal as leading amateur, Manassero proved he can play with the world’s best.
Perhaps more importantly, he proved that he can play faster than the world’s elite. He plays with a speed that is refreshing and sadly lacking in the pro game.
As for college golf, the answer is no.
Manassero, who got into this championship through winning the British Amateur Championship last year, said high school is a priority in his life.
However, it sounds as if it isn’t really his priority.
“My parents want me to finish school,” he said. “I’m pretty sure I will finish.”
He will be under pressure to turn pro sooner rather than later. He’s in the record books as the youngest winner of the British Amateur, and the youngest winner of the silver medal since the R & A introduced a prize for leading amateurs 60 years ago.
In August he will try to make more history when he attempts to become the first player to win the British Amateur and British Boys’ Championship in the same year. Manassero has entered the Boys Championship at Royal St George’s.
Manassero should make a fortune in the pro game. Too bad he won’t do so as NCAA champion.
–Alistair Tait Posted July 19
NORMAN, Okla. – Through his practice rounds, his two rounds of stroke play qualifying and his first three matches, Sam Lyons carried his own golf bag at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course. And each of those days temperatures topped the 100-degree mark.
After winning his second and third round matches Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals, Lyons, 20, of Myrtle Beach, S.C. and a senior-to-be at Coastal Carolina, said he planned to continue serving as his own caddie.
He had a change of heart before his Friday quarterfinal match against Phillip Bryan, the assistant golf coach at Oklahoma. Lyons brought on a local man who was a member of the host committee and had caddied earlier in the week.
The move proved most costly.
Playing the par-3, 12th hole and down 1, it appeared Lyons had made par to halve the hole. However, as the two competitors were walking to the 13th tee, match referee Jim Patton informed Lyons he lost the hole due to a breach of Rule 14-2.
Part “b” of the rule states that in making a stroke, a player must not “allow his caddie, his partner or his partner’s caddie to position himself on or close to an extension of the line of play or the line of putt behind the ball.”
While Lyons’ caddie stood off the green, some 15 yards or so way, he was in line of the 8-foot par putt.
When the hole was completed, Bryan questioned the referee about it. Patton asked the caddie if that was the case and he said yes, although he thought he was far enough away that it didn’t matter.
It rattled Lyons, who made double bogey at the 13th to lose the hole and put Bryan 3-up. But Lyons shook it off and charged back, winning Nos. 15, 16 and 17 with pars to square the match, only to have Bryan birdie the 18th hole for a 1-up victory. – Ron Balicki Posted July 17
NORMAN, Okla. – Same last names; different people; pretty much the same result.
That about sums up Nick Taylor’s Friday in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course.
On his way to advancing to Saturday’s 36-hole championship match, Taylor disposed of the non-related Bryan boys. Unusual to say the least. Not sure if something like that has ever happened.
In his quarterfinal round in the morning, Taylor turned back Wesley Bryan of Chapin, S.C., 2 and 1. Another Bryan awaited the Canadian in the semifinals. This one being Phillip Bryan, the local favorite who played his college golf at Oklahoma through 2008 and now serves as the golf team’s assistant coach.
Playing before a large partisan gallery of close to 100, Taylor scored a 3-and-2 victory.
“I guess it’s pretty strange to have to play two guys with the same name in the same day, especially in a national tournament,” Taylor said. “Actually, I wasn’t paying much attention to their names, just what they were doing against me on the course.”
Good thinking. And it paid off as Taylor now tries to become the first Canadian to win this championship in its 84-year history. – Ron Balicki Posted July 17
NORMAN, Okla. – It’s been a good week so far for Phillip Bryan, 23, the assistant golf coach at Oklahoma.
Not only did he advance to the Sweet 16 Thursday morning at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, he’s also been playing a course he’s most familiar with – OU’s Jimmie Austin Golf Course -- and is have the luxury of sleeping in his own bed at night.
Bryan, who completed his college eligibility at Oklahoma in 2008, made his way into the Round of 16 by defeating Gene Webster Jr., 3 and 2.
“It’s been great,” Bryan said of playing at home. “I have six, seven buddies come out to watch and my family watches. The past few days some people from OU have started coming out so it’s been fun.”
Bryan said the most difficult thing for him in getting ready for this year’s APL was “waiting for it to begin.”
“I was in one of the first qualifiers I think it was June 8 and the tournament started July 13,” Bryan said. “Once the tournament finally started it was fine, just waiting was kind of hard.”
So far, it’s been worth the wait.
– Ron Balicki Posted July 16
NORMAN, Okla. – From the start of this year’s U.S. Amateur Public Links
Championship, Rickie Fowler was considered one of the leading favorites
to win the title.
Why not? He was a first-team All-American his
first two seasons at Oklahoma State, a 2007 U.S. Walker Cupper,
represented the U.S. at the 2008 World Amateur Team Championship,
played in the last two U.S. Opens, etc., etc.
He certainly advanced his chance at winning this year’s APL when he opened match play with a 5-and-4 victory.
The player who goes on to win this title will earn a number of perks, including an invitation to compete in the 2010 Masters.
And if that player is, in fact, Fowler, don’t be too surprised if we see another Colt Knost scenario.
In
2007 Knost won the APL (he also went on to win the U.S. Amateur) to
gain a Masters invite. However, after competing in the Walker Cup later
that year, he decided to forego that invite and turn professional.
Last
Sunday, Fowler told me he was pretty much going to turn pro following
this year’s Walker Cup, meaning he would skip his final two years of
eligibility at Oklahoma State.
In a Tuesday interview with a
local TV station, following two days of stroke-play qualifying at the
APL, he gave a quick and definite “yes” when asked if he would be
turning pro this fall.
Now, at least in my mind, that begged the
question of whether those plans would change if he went on to win this
week and gain a Masters invite?
He told me, “I don’t think my plans will change even if I win. I pretty much have my mind set on what I’m going to do.”
Interesting,
for sure. But I don’t think we’ll be seeing Rickie Fowler inside the
ropes at Augusta National Golf Club next April -- well, at least not as
an amateur.
– Ron Balicki Posted July 15
NORMAN,
Okla. – Here’s the unofficial – and certainly unrelated – results from
the name game in the first round of match play Wednesday at the 84th
U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf
Course.
It was Frames 2, Browns 0 in one of the most unusual pairing setups I’ve ever seen while covering USGA amateur championships.
Hank
Frame of Spokane, Wash., defeated Michael Brown of Cheltenham, Pa., 4
and 3. Meanwhile, Andrew Frame of Manteno, Ill., defeated Zahkai Brown
of Arvada, Colo., 2 and 1. None of the players are blood related.
And what would you think the chances of the computer spitting out these two matches would be?
It
was also a good day for the unrelated Bryans. Wesley Bryan of Chapin,
S.C., edged Robert Riesen, of Pinehurst, N.C., 1 up. Local attraction
Phillip Bryan of Norman, Okla., downed Braxton Marquez of Scottsdale,
Ariz., 2 and 1.
It was a split for the non-related Nagy boys.
Matt Nagy, of Buena Vista, Calif., who missed the cut last month in the
U.S. Open, turned back Chris Marin, of Monterey, Calif., 3 and 2, but
Cory Nagy of Charlotte, N.C., (and a senior-to-be at Charlotte) lost
1-up to Josh Gregory, the head golf coach at Augusta State.
– Ron Balicki Posted July 15
NORMAN,
Okla. – Some people collect coins; for others it’s stamps. In the
golfing world there are those who collect logo golf balls, or
scorecards. I know one couple who collects logo golf towels.
Veteran
amateur competitor Danny Green is a collector as well. For the
52-year-old from Jackson, Tenn., it’s the badge that identifies you as
a participant in a USGA championship.
And, even though he was
forced to withdraw after nine holes of the opening round of stroke play
qualifying on Monday due to heat exhaustion, Green picked up his 56th
such badge.
“I’ve definitely accumulated quite a collection of
them over the years,” said Green, the only player who has competed in
the finals of the U.S. Amateur, U.S. Amateur Public Links and U.S.
Mid-Amateur, which he won in 1999. “To me, it’s pretty special.”
Green
is expected to add to his collection this year at the U.S. Senior Open,
where he was low amateur last year, the U.S. Mid-Amateur and he hopes
the USGA’s State Team Championship, where he has previously represented
Tennessee six times.
“I’d really like to get it into the 60s and
I’m sure that will happen,” he said. “I think I’ve still got a few more
good years of golf left in me.”
Green has had some good things come his way this year as well.
Last month, June 2 was declared Danny Green Day in the city of Jackson and he received a framed proclamation.
Earlier
he was named, along with Beverly Pearce of Jackson and Tim Jackson of
Germantown, as this year’s three inductees into the Tennessee Golf Hall
of Fame by the Tennessee Golf Association. They will be inducted in
ceremonies in Nashville in early November.
For so many years,
Green and Jackson have been golfing legends in the Volunteer State.
Green is a four-time state mid-amateur and three-time state amateur
champion, while Jackson has won five state mid-ams and four state ams
in addition to claiming two U.S. Mid-Amateur titles. Both are former
Walker Cup members.
What a great honor for two of the most likable and talented people involved all their lives in men’s amateur golf.
– Ron Balicki Posted July 14
NORMAN, Okla. – What a difference a good night’s sleep can make – especially when it’s in a comfortable bed.
For
Jack Newman, the defending U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, it meant
the difference from shooting a 7-over 78 and a 1-over 72 Monday and
Tuesday in the stroke-playing qualifying at this year’s APL at Jimmie
Austin OU Golf Course.
Last week Newman, a recent Michigan State
graduate, competed in the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill.
Not only did he make the cut, but he went on to tie for 39th.
In doing so, however, he had to play 36 holes Sunday after rain washed out play one day.
After
completing play late Sunday afternoon, Newman drove back home to Des
Moines, Iowa, and then headed south to Oklahoma, where he had a 12:31
p.m. tee time Monday. Some 700 miles and more than 11 hours later, he
pulled into Norman around 8:30 a.m.
He was out at the course by 11 a.m. and then went out in the afternoon’s 105-degree temperature and shot 78.
“I
slept for five hours or so in the car while we were driving down here,
but I wouldn’t call it a good sleep,” Newman, 21, said. “I was really
dragging yesterday.”
It certainly took its toll on his game as he registered seven bogeys and no birdies.
Newman was in bed by 9 p.m. Monday and said, “I got eight good hours of sleep.”
He teed off at 7:31 and in an up-and-down round, managed a 72. He had five birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.
“I’m
still a little tired,” he said after his second round, “but I feel I
played much better. It’s been a crazy last few days, that’s for sure.
Now I just have to wait and see if 8 over is good enough to make match
play.” – Ron Balicki Posted July 14
NORMAN,
Okla. – The USGA had a projected pace of play of 4 1/2 hours during the
stroke play portion of this year’s U.S. Amateur Public Links
Championship at the par-71 Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course.
It took
a little longer during Monday’s opening round, especially the afternoon
wave, primarily due to the 105 degree temperature. In that kind of
heat, players tend to move a bit slower and some of the delays were due
to the greens being frequently watered.
So, it took around five hours to get the round in, which, for the guys who play college golf, it was hardly even noticeable.
“The
pace of play wasn’t a problem at all,” said Rickie Fowler, who earned
first-team All-American honors his first two years at Oklahoma State.
“In college golf, you get used to it. Heck, some tournaments we’re
playing 36 holes in one day and were out on the course for 12 hours.
Five, or six hour rounds are something we’ve dealt with. You just have
to be patient and handle it.”
– Ron Balicki Posted July 14
VIDEO: Asher Wildman recaps Bud Cauley’s Players Am victory.
VIDEO: Asher Wildman with his Take 5 from Rd. 3 of the Players Amateur.
VIDEO: Asher Wildman with his Take 5 from Rd. 2 of the Players Amateur. NORMAN, Okla. - Volunteers and officials in golf cars stayed plenty busy Monday afternoon during the opening round of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course.
In fact, by mid-to-late afternoon they became more like taxi drivers.
The reason was the 105 degree temperature that produced a heat index of close to 110. Spectators were wilting away and trying to make their way back to the air-conditioned clubhouse.
The brutal heat also affected the players and one, in particular, cited the conditions for his withdrawal.
Danny Green, at 52 the oldest player in the starting field of 156, called it quits after nine holes.
“I just couldn’t take it,” Green said as he walked from the ninth green toward the clubhouse. “Everytime I bent down I would get dizzy. A couple of times I thought I might pass out. It’s just not worth it.”
His wife Dawn, didn’t make it that far. She walked and watched for seven holes before flagging down one of the golf-car riding volunteers and being brought in.
While sitting on the clubhouse patio drinking water and a lemonade, Green was still feeling a bit wheezy and at times would cramp up.
“The thing about it is it’s not even as humid as it probably could be,” said Green, a former U.S. Mid-Amateur champion who was low amateur at last year’s U.S. Senior Open. “I mean, if it was humid, like the way it can get back home (Jackson, Tenn.), I probably would have made only four or five holes.”
Next up for Green, who earlier this month was runner-up at the Tennessee State Match Play Championship, is the U.S. Senior Open at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Ind.
“I just hope it’s cooler up there,” Green said.
– Ron Balicki Posted July 13
NORMAN, Okla. — David McDaniel had what one might describe as a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde day Monday in the first round of stroke-play qualifying during the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at the par-71 Jimmy Austin/OU Golf Club.
The mid-amateur from Tucson, Ariz., started on the back nine and birdied Nos. 16, 17, and 18 to make the turn in 3-under and be among the early leaders. That was the Dr. Jekyll part of his round.
It was then Mr. Hyde’s turn to commandeer McDaniel’s game.
McDaniel bogeyed the first four holes on the front side, righted himself with a birdie at No. 5, but then gave it back with a bogey on No. 8.
He finished the up-and-down day with a 1-over-par 72, but still in good shape to finish among the 64 lowest scorers after 36 holes. Those 64 will advance to the match-play portion in this, the 84th national championship for public-course players.
– Ron Balicki Posted July 13
BLUFFTON, S.C. – We have all heard the saying, “Father knows best,” but this week at the Players Amateur we heard mom knows best. Runner-up George Bryan IV had his mom on the bag this week and enjoyed every second of it.
"It was fun because I know she is always pulling for me and trying to give me words of wisdom," Bryan said.
When I asked if that sums up what a mom is, he chuckled and said, "Yep, pretty much."
– Asher Wildman Posted July 12
BLUFFTON, S.C. – Just had lunch with Belfair Club Champion Dr. William Fuller. With his win, Fuller earned an invitation to play in this year's Players Amateur. The club champ did not disappoint, making the cut and enjoying every second of it.
He told me while eating a piece of apple pie, "I just love the game and am always looking to get better. This was a lot of fun for me, and I enjoyed every second of it."
We also talked course strategy, and he was pretty adamant about one thing.
"These greens are so firm that it makes you change your game. These college kids are so used to throwing darts at the pin that it actually hurts you more than it helps," he said.
He told me the way to go for the greens is to aim four or five yards short and have the ball roll up and on.
As we continued talking strategy I asked him about putting or chipping from the fringe. He laughed, and replied, "Ha, from the fringe? I'll putt it from the fairway."
He's right. I can't tell you how many people have tried chipping from off the green only to see their ball roll right off of it or back to their feet. My advice to players next year? Ask to be paired with the Club Champion in Round 1.
Or, at the very least, watch his practice round.
– Asher Wildman Posted July 12
BLUFFTON, S.C. — I caught up with Walker Cup hopeful Daniel Woltman this afternoon. The Wisconsin native has had a solid, yet challenging summer.
It was just a few weeks ago that Woltman was in Memphis, Tenn. trying to qualify for the U.S. Open. “I only got an hour of sleep the whole night and woke up with a fever of 102.5, then I went out and played 36 holes in 96-degree heat.”
The heat didn’t help his fever, and when severe fatigue set in he went to the hospital. He was tested twice for Swine Flu and was positive on both. Daniel didn’t want to believe the news because he was scheduled for a flight the next day to Sunnehanna, where he finished second a year ago.
“I hated not going, I wanted to play. I played there well before and was hoping to start off the summer with a strong finish,” Woltman said.
From Tuesday through Sunday (the week of Sunnehanna), Woltman was in the hospital being treated for Swine Flu. “I was sleeping 15 hours a day, taking 16 pills a day for the first three days and was feeling pretty loopy from it.”
Woltman’s family or friends were required to wear masks when they visted and had to stay at least six feet away from him. When he was released from the hospital, Woltman lost a total of seven pounds and doctors have encouraged him to eat constantly.
He is currently in a three-way tie for the lead at the Players Amateur as he prepares for Round 3.
– Asher Wildman Posted July 11
BLUFFTON, S.C. — Hats off today to 53-year-old Brady Exber for his second-round 75 at the Players Amateur. It’s an impressive round considering what happened to Exber earlier this summer.
While playing earlier in the summer at the Sunnehanna Amateur, Exber said he hurt his hip.
“I was on an uphill lie, and I think too much weight went to one side because I felt a real bad pull.”
Despite the soreness, Exber continues to play.
Exber intends to try qualifying for the Senior British Open, but he is undecided about qualifying for the U.S. Amateur later this summer. When you watch him play during competion, it’s easy to tell how much he enjoys it. It will take more than a sore hip to keep this guy awayfrom the game he loves to play.
– Asher Wildman Posted July 10
Bluffton, S.C. — I think it is safe to say the Players Amateur is the “Isleworth” tournament of the summer.
Over the last few years, players that have attended the UCF-Isleworth college event have received ipods, digital cameras, and clothing from Ian Poulter. This year at the Players Amateur, Oakley seemed to be the big gift-giver this year.
Each player in the field received Oakley sunglasses, hats, and shirts. Not bad if you ask me.
– Asher Wildman Posted July 10
As part of Golfweek’s Amateur Blog, we’ll bring you a weekly roundup of players who’ve made big moves in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Amateur Rankings:
• Brian Harman of Savannah, Ga., has remained an amateur this summer to try to make this year’s Walker Cup team, and he took a big step toward that goal with an impressive win at the Dogwood Invitational. Harman is now No. 17 in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com World Amateur Rankings.
Adam Mitchell of Chattanooga, Tenn., another Walker Cup hopeful who needed a strong finish to boost his chances, finished third and currently sits at World No. 6.
• Mark Anderson of Beaufort, S.C. (World No. 9) and Drew Weaver of High Point, N.C. (World No. 30) also had top-10 finishes at the Dogwood to enhance their hopes of making the Walker Cup team.
• Nick Taylor of Canada, the low amateur at the U.S. Open, continued his great play by winning the Sahalee Players Championship over Australian Daniel Nisbet, moving Taylor to World No. 4.
• David Chung of Fayetteville, N.C., won the North & South Amateur to move up to World No. 56.
Runner-up Wesley Bryan of Chapin, S.C. moved to World No. 17, while Peter Uihlein of Orlando, Fla. (World No. 13), Morgan Hoffmann of Saddle Brook, N.J. (World No. 23), and Tyson Alexander of Gainesville, Fla. (World No. 34) all finished in the final 16 and remain in contention for the U.S. Walker Cup team.
• Finally, Sang Yi of Carrollton, Texas, won the Spirit of America Classic over Wade Binfield of Fayetteville, Ga., to enter the rankings at World No. 536.
It’s been a good summer for members of the LSU golf team. Sang Yi has gone undefeated this summer, winning a pro event on the Gateway Tour’s DFW series, the Spirit of America Classic and a U.S. Amateur Public Links qualifier at the Golf Club at Frisco Lakes in Frisco, Texas. Yi’s LSU teammate, Josh Jones, was tied with Yi for the 54-hole lead before finishing T-3. Jones finished second to Yi at the U.S. APL qualifier.
LSU’s Andrew Loupe won the Louisiana Amateur and made match play at the North & South Amateur before beating defending champion Matt Savage, 5 and 4, and Michigan’s Lion Kim, 4 and 3, en route to the Round of 16.
Loupe is the subject of one of the best performances from a college team’s qualifying that I’ve ever heard of. Loupe shot 36 under par in eight qualifying rounds preceding the Gator Invitational; his next closest teammate was 38 shots back. Loupe shot 63 in the final of those eight rounds, and seven of the eight rounds were in the 60s (his other round was a 73).
– Sean Martin Posted July 10
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Pays to be a junior at the U.S. Women’s Open. Well, at least in the eyes of the local media.
The Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call featured Katherine Perry on the front page of the newspaper Tuesday morning. Perry, 17, is pictured sitting behind the wheel of her Lexus LX 560 courtesy car. Flip over to the sports section and Alexis Thompson is featured in the lead photo, and on Page 3, there’s a nice picture of Yueer Cindy Feng.
In total, there are 26 teenagers in the field. Feng, 13, is the youngest.
Would be great to see a few of them play on the weekend. – Dan Mirocha Posted July 7
Arizona State’s James Byrne shot 68 Monday at Western Gailes in Scotland and leads after the first round of Local Final Qualifying for the British Open. The second round will be held Tuesday, with four players apiece qualifying from three sites.
Byrne has been having a strong summer in his natve country. In June, he won the Tennant Cup by seven strokes, then won the East of Scotland Amateur by eight after posting a 22-under 262 total (65-63-67-67). Byrne’s Arizona State teammate, Scott Pinckney, was runner-up; Pinckney, an American, is spending the summer with his teammate to play links golf.
Byrne also made the Round of 16 at the British Amateur and tied for fourth in the Scottish Open Amateur Stroke Play. – Sean Martin Posted July 6
Utah Jazz guard Kyle Korver has been given an exemption into this week’s Utah State Amateur Championship, according to the Desert News.
Valley View Golf Course Head Pro Matt Lyons offered Korver one of the two host club exemptions and told the Deseret News that the former Creighton standout has a “legitimate shot to make it to match play.” Korver was on hand at Valley View for Wednesday’s media day, where he played with Lyons and fired a 2-over 74.
Korver, who carries roughly a 6 handicap also received an exemption into last year’s Utah Open, where he shot 85-79.
The 111th Utah State Amateur begins July 8, with the field of 157 players being cut to 32 after 36 holes. – D.J. Piehowski Posted July 6
What’s the best way to state your case for a selection to this year’s U.S. Walker Cup team?
Performance – plain and simple. Let your golf clubs do your talking.
That’s definitely what Brian Harman did last weekend at the Dogwood Invitational at Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta.
Harman completed his college eligibility at Georgia following this year’s NCAA Championship, where he tied for ninth, but opted out of turning pro right away in hopes of making another Walker Cup team (he played on the victorious U.S. squad in 2005).
He knew he would have to make something happen. He did just that.
After an opening 1-over 73, Harman surged back and shot 67-64 to put him in the lead, then closed the deal with a final-round 66. His 18-under 270 total gave him a four-stroke win over his Georgia teammate Russell Henley, who finished with a 67. Adam Mitchell, who also ended his collegiate career at Georgia this spring, was third at 12 under.
Like Harman, both Henley, who also tied for ninth at the NCAA, and Mitchell, winner of the 2008 Porter Cup and a semifinalist at last year’s U.S. Amateur, are considered Walker Cup candidates.
But this victory was huge for Harman, whose last big win came at the 2007 Porter Cup.
He showed signs of returning to form this past college season, being a second-team All-American and finishing No. 13 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings.
A second-place showing at the Sunnehanna Amateur in early June and a tie for 22nd at the Northeast Amateur two weeks later were added pluses to his resume.
But the Dogwood win without a doubt bolstered his stock value toward becoming one of the 10 players who will travel to Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., to face Great Britain & Ireland on Sept. 12-13.
And, Harman is one heck of a match-play competitor. The 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, Harman went 2-0-1 in the 2005 Walker Cup, where he was the youngest member of the U.S. squad.
In the match-play portion of this year’s NCAA Championship, Harman was 1 down with three holes to play against Oklahoma State’s Rickie Fowler, a two-time first-team All-American and 2008 Hogan Award recipient. All he did was birdie the final three holes, sending Georgia to the semifinals by sinking a clutch 8-foot putt on the final hole for a 1-up victory.
Bottom line is the guy can perform under pressure and has the fire and desire that can spill over on his teammates.
– Ron Balicki Posted July 6
NCAA champion Matt Hill tied for 70th at the AT&T National with a 10-over 290 total (71-69-75-75). Hill, a junior-to-be at North Carolina State, was Golfweek’s College Player of the Year this season. Hill made birdies on Nos. 13-15 in the second round to make the cut with two shots to spare.
Hill struggled on No. 11, the same hole that gave Tiger Woods fits. Hill played it in 6 over, making double bogey on the par-4 in each of the first three rounds. Woods played the hole 5 over en route to victory.
It was a good week for Canadian amateurs, as well. Nick Taylor won the Sahalee Players Championship last week.
– Sean Martin Posted July 6
Pontus Widegren, a freshman-to-be at UCLA, tied for first in the stroke-play qualifying at the European Men’s Amateur Team Championship. The Swede shot consecutive 67s to tie British Amateur champ Matteo Manassero of Italy. Andrea Pavan, who plays for NCAA champion Texas A&M, finished one shot back. Pavan was also representing Italy.
Sweden’s David Lingmerth (University of Arkansas) tied for fifth at 7 under par. Germany’s Allen John (Georgia State), Norway’s Knut Borsheim (Arizona State), Spain’s Ignacio Elvira (Texas A&M) and England’s Charlie Ford (University of Tennessee) were other players who competed this past season for American colleges to finish in the top 20.
Scotland won the team title with a 5-2 victory over England in the final. Scotland also won the World Amateur Team Championship in October 2008.
– Sean Martin Posted July 6
As part of Golfweek’s Amateur Blog, we’ll bring you a weekly roundup of players who’ve made big moves in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Amateur Rankings:
• World No. 2 Rickie Fowler had a chance to reclaim the No. 1 spot from Englishman Luke Goddard, but with rounds of 72-73 he missed the cut at the PGA Tour’s Traveler’s Championship.
• Zach Sucher of Mobile, Ala., continues his push for a spot on the Walker Cup team and has moved up to World No. 5.
In the past week’s points tournaments:
• Dan Woltman of Beaver Falls, Wis., won the Northeast Amateur to move to No. 27 in the World rankings.
• James Byrne of Scotland won the East of Scotland Amateur to move to No. 77.
• Brooks Koepka of Wellington, Fla., had a record-setting performance at the Rice Planters Amateur that moved him to No. 110.
• Justin Yoder of Warrensburg, Mo., won the Greystone Invitational to move to World No. 346.
• Mitchell Evanecz of Canada won the Glencoe Invitational in Calgary to move to World No. 429.
• Chris Kessler of Scottsdale, Ariz., won the Trans-Mississippi Championship to move to World No. 527. – Pete Wlodkowski, amateurgolf.com Posted June 26
One of the more impressive performances in state amateurs this past week came at the Florida State Amateur at TPC Sawgrass. Blayne Barber, a sophomore-to-be at Central Florida, won the tournament by nine shots, shooting 11-under 277 (67-69-71-70) to win by nine shots. Barber’s final three rounds were played at TPC Sawgrass’ Players Stadium Course. He played the first round at Sawgrass Country Club.
Barber tied for seventh at this year’s NCAA Division I Men’s Championship, and was the a member of the national all-freshman team. He was also the Conference USA player and freshman of the year.
– Sean Martin Posted June 30
Cal Poly senior-to-be Geoff Gonzalez got a little revenge on Lake Merced Golf Club in the California Amateur this past week. Gonzalez played the NCAA Division I West Regional at Lake Merced earlier this year; competing as an individual, Gonzalez tied for 57th in the 74-player field.
At the California Amateur, Gonzalez swept the stroke- and match-play portions of the tournament, becoming the 12th player to do so. Gonzalez shared medalist honors with Cal State-Northridge’s Nick Delio, the defending champion.
Delio advanced to the semis before losing to Jeff Wilson, who was looking to add his first state amateur to a sterling resume. Wilson is a three-time medalist at the U.S. Mid-Amateur and four-time U.S. Open participant.
– Sean Martin Posted June 30
Matt Hill, the North Carolina State sophomore who won this year’s NCAA men’s individual title, will test his game this week against Tiger Woods and the PGA Tour at the AT&T National.
The Ontario native will also get to play against the pros in his country’s national championship. He and fellow Canuck Nick Taylor, the low amateur at this year’s U.S. Open, received sponsor exemptions into the RBC Canadian Open July 23-26. – Adam Schupak Posted June 30
Washington State’s Austin Hurt appeared to be out of contention at the Washington Amateur Championship after firing a 9-over 81 in his first round.
Hurt was 13 shots off the lead after the first round, but he battled back over the next three days, shooting 69-69-65 to edge Drew Reinland of Walla Walla High School by one shot.
Hurt’s 65 was a new course record at Palouse Ridge Golf Club. He entered the final round nine shots behind the leader, but he got within striking distance after a chip-in eagle on the par-5 9th, which capped off a front-nine 32. He kept things going on the back nine, making three more birdies to finish at 4-under 284 for the tournament.
– D.J. Piehowski Posted June 30
The next five days will have a huge bearing on this year’s Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup team.
The European Men’s Team Championship takes place at Conwy, Wales from June 30 to July 4. Eighteen members of the 26-man GB&I squad are in action as 20 teams battle it out in North Wales to become champions of Europe.
GB&I captain Colin Dalgleish and his team of selectors will be out in force as they try to whittle the squad down to the 10 players to take on the United States at Merion, September 12-13.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 29
Walker Cup candidates Mike Van Sickle and Zack Sucher will get a chance to test their games against the pros after receiving sponsor exemptions to the John Deere Classic.
Van Sickle (Marquette) and Sucher (UAB) finished their eligibility earlier this year, but are postponing their pro career in an attempt to represent the U.S. in the Walker Cup.
Other sponsor exemptions into this year’s Deere, which will be held July 9-12, went to Michigan State’s Jack Newman, the ‘08 U.S. Amateur Public Links champ, and Arizona State’s Philip Francis. Kyle Stanley, making his pro debut at this week’s Travelers Championship, also is in the field. – Sean Martin Posted June 26
As part of Golfweek’s Amateur Blog, we’ll bring you a weekly roundup of players who’ve made big moves in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Amateur Rankings:
• Matteo Manassero, a 16-year-old from Italy, moved up to World No. 10 after a historic double at the British Amateur, taking medalist honors and then winning the title.
Not only did he defeat No. 3 Sam Hutsby in the final, he became the youngest player to win the British Amateur, and will be the youngest player to compete in the Masters (Tommy Aaron was just over 17 when he played in 1952).
At the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, Canadian Nick Taylor earned low amateur honors and moved up to World No. 4, while Drew Weaver of High Point, N.C., made the cut and moved up to No. 40. (The 2007 British Amateur champ’s spirited play at Bethpage likely caught the eye of U.S. Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci.)
• Kyle Stanley of Gig Harbor, Wash., also made the cut and then turned professional after the tournament. His name will be removed from the amateur rankings after being in the top 5 for much of the year.
In other tournaments:
• Englishman Farren Keenan repeated at the Berkshire Trophy to move up to World No. 70. Keenan played at the University of Texas.
• Bo Hoag of Upper Arlington, Ohio, won the Monroe Invitational and moved to No. 75. Hoag is a junior-to-be at Ohio State.
• James Byrne of Scotland won the Tennant Cup to move to No. 109. Byrne is a junior-to-be at Arizona State.
• Travis Woolf of Fort Worth, Texas, won the Southwestern Amateur and moved to No. 122. Woolf is a senior-to-be at TCU.
• Derek Chang of Alpharetta, Ga., won the Southeastern Amateur and moved to No. 182. Chang is a sophomore-to-be at Minnesota. – Pete Wlodkowski, amateurgolf.com Posted June 26
RUMFORD, R.I. – Talk about making the most of an opportunity. That’s exactly what Bud Cauley did during the first two rounds this week at the Northeast Amateur at Wannamoisett Country Club.
As a freshman this past season at Alabama, Cauley earned second-team All-American honors and was a member of the U.S. Palmer Cup team. He tied for first at the U.S. Collegiate Championship and had T-5s at the Southeastern Conference Championship, Isleworth and the Ping/Golfweek Preview. In 2008, he won the Terra Cotta Invitational.
He certainly is in the mix to land a spot on this year’s 10-man U.S. Walker Cup team.
He no doubt enhanced those Walker Cup hopes early on at the Northeast Am after being paired for the first two rounds with U.S. captain Buddy Marucci.
That could be pretty intimidating for a young player knowing the man in charge is watching each and every one of your shots. Easily, it was a test of nerves.
And, just as easily, Cauley passed with flying colors. He shot an opening round 1-under-par 68 and followed with a 4-under 65 to stand at 5-under 134 at the halfway point and in second place, just two shots off the lead.
“It was a lot of fun,” Cauley said. “Buddy was great. He really made me feel comfortable out there. I know he’s the Walker Cup captain and there’s nothing I would like more than to be on that team this year, but I really wasn’t nervous. I’m just happy I was able to play well those two days.”
– Ron Balicki Posted June 26
RUMFORD, R.I. – The par-4 second hole at Wannamoisett Country Club has long been considered one of the toughest – if not the toughest – holes on the course.
It’s listed as the No. 3 handicap hole on the club’s scorecard, but most members consider it top-ranked as far as difficulty.
During last year’s Northeast Amateur, which annually attracts one of the strongest fields on the amateur circuit, No. 2 ranked as the event’s most difficult with a stroke average of 4.321.
So what does Wannamoisett do? It makes the hole even tougher.
As part of some big-time course renovations, the club stretched the second hole by some 35 yards to 505 yards. And it’s still a par-4, although there’s plenty of players at this year’s tournament who would dispute that.
When the starting field of 84 players completed their opening rounds, the average score at No. 2 was 4.488. There were 46 pars, 32 bogeys and five double bogeys. Only one birdie was recorded, that by defending champion Brenden Gielow, who sank a 15-foot putt for his 3.
“If you don’t hit the fairway (off the tee) chances are you are not going to get to the green in regulation,” said former Northeast Amateur champion Todd White.
“It would make for a very nice par-5,” added Carlton Forrester.
And consider this, with the green – normally one of the fastest and most severe on the course – soft and slow due to recent rains, the hole probably played as easy as it’s going to all week.
All I can say is wait until Saturday’s final round. If the rain stays away and the sun comes out, a lot of players are going to be talking to themselves as they make their way to the third tee. – Ron Balicki Posted June 24
RUMFORD, R.I. – Nathan Smith, the 2003 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, gave his opening round at the 48th Northeast Amateur a big boost Wednesday when he made an eagle-2 at the 372-yard, par-4 fifth hole at Wannamoisett Country Club.
After cutting the corner off the dogleg right shaped hole with his tee shot, Smith faced a 70-yard shot from the middle of the fairway.
“I hit my 60 degree (wedge) from an uphill lie and into the wind,” Smith said. “The ball bounced once and dropped in. It was sure a nice way to jump start the round.”
Smith, who finished second at last year’s Northeast Amateur, went on to shoot 3-under 66.
Smith, who is among the few serious mid-amateur contenders for selection to this year’s U.S. Walker Cup team is coming off a tie for fourth at the Sunnehanna Amateur, an event where he placed third the previous year. – Ron Balicki Posted June 24
Former University of Texas player Farren Keenan sure has liking for The Berkshire Golf Club. Keenan might just think about taking out membership at the classic English course should he ever get fed up playing his home course of Sunningdale.
Keenan, whose sister Ellis will attend UNLV in the fall, became the first player since Gary Wolstenholme in 1997 to win the Berkshire Trophy in consecutive years when he successfully defended his title June 21. Keenan defeated countryman Luke Goddard by four shots with rounds of 66-66-69-67 for a 19-under 26 total.
The English amateur failed to qualify for the match play stages of the British Amateur Championship at Formby, but made up for it by winning one of England’s most prestigious tournaments.
The Berkshire Trophy stretches back to 1946, and has a list of excellent winners that includes Sir Michael Bonallack, Peter Oosterhuis, Sandy Lyle, Peter McEvoy, Ross Fisher and Wolstenholme.
No player has won it three consecutive years since Philip Scrutton in 1950-52. There’s a good chance Keenan won’t attempt to match that record since he will try for his European Tour card later this year. – Alistair Tait Posted June 23
Two years ago, many felt Drew Weaver’s win at the British Amateur Championship was worthy enough to land him a spot on the 2007 U.S. Walker Cup team. While he gained plenty of consideration, he was not selected by the USGA to be a part of that 10-man squad.
This week, Weaver, a recent Virginia Tech graduate, gave the USGA something to think about as it prepares to select its Walker Cup team that will compete against Great Britain & Ireland in the 42nd match at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.
Weaver was not only one of three amateurs to make the cut in the 109th U.S. Open at Bethpage Black, but finished the championship as low American amateur. He tied for 40th at 9-over par, one stroke higher than the overall low amateur, Canadian Nick Taylor. Rounding out the trio was Kyle Stanley, who tied for 53rd at 13 over. Stanley, a member of that 2007 U.S. Walker Cup team, has announced he would bypass his senior year at Clemson and turn pro.
It’s going to be interesting to see how much weight the USGA puts on Weaver’s performance at the U.S. Open.
Winning the British Amateur didn’t do the trick, but maybe this will, because the USGA has been known to put a great deal of emphasis on an amateur’s performance in its premier championship. – Ron Balicki Posted June 22
FORMBY, England – Italy’s Matteo Manassero hasn’t stopped making history. He will enter the record books again next April when he becomes the youngest competitor in Masters history.
Manassero was born April 19, 1993. He will still be 16 when he tees it up at Augusta next April.
He will break Tommy Jacobs’ record as youngest competitor. Jacobs was 17 years, 1 month and 21 days when he played in the 1952 Masters.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 21
FORMBY, England — College coaches salivating at the prospect of getting British Amateur champion Matteo Manassero into their programs should reach for the tissue box right now and wipe their mouths dry.
Matteo won’t be playing college golf in the future. He will finish high school and turn pro.
The 16-year-old has looked into the possibility of playing college golf. He talked to Texas A&M player Andre Pavan, also from Italy, about college golf, but says it isn’t for him.
“I will finish high school and then turn pro,” Manassero said.
Sorry college coaches. He’d have looked good playing in the NCAA Championship, but it isn’t going to happen.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 20
FORMBY, England — The Tait Test for future greatness is pretty simple. If a player gets added to my dictionary when I do a spell check, then there’s a good chance I think he’s one for the future.
My first task after writing stories is an immediate spell check to correct my typing mistakes before I proofread my copy. This process always throws up players’ names.
That’s when I have to make the decision on whether or not I think a player will be around for a long time or is just a flash in the pan. Obviously if a player is going to be around for a while then I’m going to have to write about him or her in future, which means his or her name is going to be queried when I do spell checks.
So it’s usually easier to add the name to my dictionary rather than have it thrown back at me.
Manassero is a case in point. I spent two days of telling my computer to ignore his name when I spell checked until I realized the boy can really play.
He’s now in my dictionary. In other words, he passes the Tait Test.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 20
FORMBY, England — Matteo Manassero has some experience helping him here this week. Italian coach Alberto Binaghi is caddying for him.
Binaghi knows a thing or two about golf under pressure. The 44-year-old Italian spent nearly 20 years on the European Tour and European Challenge Tour before becoming Italian national coach.
Binaghi had little success as a tour pro. He won the 1999 San Paola Vita Open on the Challenge Tour, but his highest money list finish on the main tour was 80th in 1989.
As for pressure, Binaghi made 14 trips to the European Tour Qualifying School during his career.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 19
FORMBY, England — Stiggy Hogson’s real name is Eamonn. He got his “Stiggy” nickname about the same time he started playing golf.
Hodgson was rooting around in a dump one day as a little boy when he came across some old golf clubs. He took the clubs home to his father and told him he wanted to start playing golf.
His father immediately nicknamed him “Stig of the Dump” after the children’s novel by the same name. “Stiggy” naturally followed and the name has stuck.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 19
FORMBY, England — Local fans thought they’d got the steal of the century at the beginning of the week. Now all they have is a useless piece of paper.
Tommy Fleetwood was a 28-1 shot with bookmakers Paddy Power on Monday morning even though he lost in last year’s final and entered the championship as the reigning Scottish Stroke Play champion. Fleetwood blew the field away at Murcar last month when he won the Scottish title.
No wonder many locals piled into Paddy Power to back Fleetwood.
The 19-year-old Englishman might have brought them some joy had he played better in his quarterfinal match against Italy’s Matteo Manassero. However, he made some pretty basic errors to give the Italian the match.
Fleetwood hit two chip shots through the green at the 14th and 15th holes to make bogeys and lose to solid pars from Manassero.
They were errors any 20 handicapper probably wouldn’t have made.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 19
FORMBY, England — If you wanted to see a player go out of a championship with a whimper instead of a bang, then you had to see the way veteran Welshman Nigel Edwards exited the British Amateur Championship.
The four-time Great Britain & Ireland Walker Cup play lost his third round match to South African Ryan Dreyer on the 20th hole.
Edwards looked like he’d received a huge rub of the green with his tee shot on the second extra hole. His ball looked like it was heading for the third of the three fairway bunkers on the right hand side of the fairway.
To Edwards’ amazement, the ball came to rest one yard from the trap.
The 40-year-old Welshman was only left with a wedge to the green, but hit what has to go down as one of the worst shots of his amateur career.
He ballooned his ball up in the air and it landed short and about 20 yards short and right of the green. With the flag on the right-hand side, it meant he had short-sided himself.
Edwards chipped to about 12 feet and missed his par putt to hand the match to his opponent.
It wasn’t only a blow for Edwards, but for many in the gallery who had him penciled in as going all the way to the final. – Alistair Tait Posted June 18
FORMBY, England — I wish I had my lawn mower with me. Then I’d be able to cut the grass around one of Southport’s landmarks.
Southport rightly nicknames itself the “English Golf Coast” given that it has so many excellent links – Royal Birkdale, Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, West Lancashire and, of course, Formby. No wonder the town council has erected a small statue of a golf ball on a tee at the southern entrance to the town.
The only problem is the statue sits on the most unkempt teeing ground I’ve ever seen. The statue is surrounded by knee-high grass. The grass is so deep that if you actually tried to tee a ball up in it then you’d probably lose it.
If I sound a little fastidious it’s only because I’ve driven past this statue for four straight days and it’s getting on my nerves.
If the grass hasn’t been cut tomorrow I’m going to alter my route so I don’t have to drive past it on Saturday.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 18
FORMBY, England – The R&A’s World Amateur Golf Ranking now decides who gets into the British Amateur Championship.
Taking players off a ranking system was thought to be necessary after previous years when some players with supposedly plus-handicaps couldn’t break 80. However, there are still spots off a ballot system for wannabe club golfers with decent handicaps.
Of the 288 places available in the stroke play qualifying, 268 were allocated to players off the WAGR. That left just 20 places for decent club amateurs.
That number swelled to 41 when 21 of the 268 withdrew from the championship.
A handicap of plus-1.9 or better was required for any golfer without a world ranking to have any chance of getting into the championship.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 17 FORMBY, England – Speaking of handicaps, even the highest plus-handicap you can think of doesn’t guarantee success in the British Amateur Championship.
Scotland’s Keir McNicoll held the lowest handicap in the entire field at plus-5.6. McNicoll plays at Carnoustie, arguably the toughest track in the British Isles. You’d have thought layouts like Formby and West Lancashire would hold no fears for him. Yet he didn’t even make the match play stages. Rounds of 73-77 meant he missed the cut by three shots.
It makes you wonder yet again about the accuracy of handicap systems.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 17
FORMBY, England – The Scottish Golf Union’s (SGU) decision to name it’s six-man European Championship team today was called into question with results from British Amateur qualifying.
Five of the six are in action here this week. Only Glenn Campbell is missing.
The SGU won’t be happy to see that four of the remaining five missed the cut at Formby. Gavin Dear is the only one through to the match play stages.
Paul O’Hara, Ross Kellett, Wallace Booth and Michael Stewart all failed to advance.
It begs the question: Why was there such a hurry to name the team? Surely the SGU could have waited until early this week, thereby affording the luxury to adjusting the team based on performances here this week.
I’ll never understand governing bodies. – Alistair Tait Posted June 16
FORMBY, England – There are a lot of good stories among the 288 competitors who began the stroke play rounds of the British Amateur Championship, but Ryan Dreyer’s is one of the most intriguing.
Dreyer is a re-instated amateur from South Africa. The 37-year-old was a member of the Sunshine Tour in his homeland but gave up after 11 years when he realized he couldn’t cut it in the pro ranks. He also tried the Canadian Tour and the mini tours in the U.S., too.
He turned his attention instead to amateur golf and poker. Yes, poker. He’s pretty good at the tables. In fact, he’s as good with a hand of cards as he is with a set of clubs.
Last September, Dreyer took the $650,000 first-place prize in the Million Dollar Sun City Shuffle Up Poker tournament, a $3,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em event.
Dreyer attended Texas A&M from 1993-95 before graduating with a degree in journalism. He’s put the degree to good use. He edits a poker magazine called “Bluff.”
Dreyer’s ambition is to win the World Series of Poker. He placed 55th in last year’s tournament, and will have another crack this year.
Here at Formby, Dreyer returned rounds of 77 at West Lancashire and 70 at Formby today for a score of 3-over 147. That score looks good enough to make the match play stages.
I’m guessing someone who picked up $650,000 in one night at the tables is unlikely to suffer from nerves. What a story it would be if he could walk off with the trophy this week.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 16
FORMBY, England – I might need to change my attitude towards the Palmer Cup after bumping into Dean Robertson today in the Formby clubhouse.
I went to the 2006 Palmer Cup at Prestwick when Europe won 19 1/2-4 1/2 and I honestly couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. It seemed like the most redundant tournament I’d ever been to.
I still felt that way this year even when I saw Europe had won at Cherry Hills to even the series.
Robertson has a diametric view. He captained this year’s European team. He called it “the best experience I’ve ever had in golf.”
It’s a pretty big statement coming from a guy who had seven good seasons on the European Tour, culminating with victory in the 1999 Italian Open and playing on two Scottish World Cup teams, including with Colin Montgomerie in 1999.
So why did “Deano” have such a great experience when I didn’t?
Arnold Palmer.
The King was at Cherry Hills, scene of his 1960 U.S. Open title, and gave his time to everyone.
“I’ve never met a more humble superstar in my life,” Robertson said. “He went out of his way to please the players. They were thrilled. He signed caps, sat and patiently answered questions in a Q-&-A session. You name it he did it.”
Palmer wasn’t at Prestwick when I made my only trip to the Palmer Cup. Maybe if he had have been I’d be more enthusiastic about the tournament. However, I just can’t seem to muster any love for the event.
Sorry, Arnold.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 16
Hunter Hamrick sure likes playing golf in his home state of Alabama.
A red-shirt freshman for the Crimson Tide this past season, the Montgomery native added yet another state title to his impressive resume last weekend. With a final-round 5-under 67, Hamrick captured the 93rd Alabama Amateur Championship at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham.
He adds that to his Alabama Junior Amateur title and three state championships in high school. He had five top-4 finishes in the state Class 3A tournament dating to the seventh grade.
“You want to be considered one of the best players in the state, so being able to win the state amateur was great,” said Hamrick, who was the youngest player (16) in the field at the 2006 U.S. Amateur and youngest (13) in the field at the 2003 U.S. Junior.
Hamrick entered the final round in third place, four shots behind leader Blake West of UAB. He finished at 6-under 282.
Hamrick has also shown he can excel outside his home turf.
During his inaugural season with the Tide, he posted six top-20 finishes, highlighted by a victory at the NCAA Northeast Regional at Calloway (N.J.) National Golf Club as he led Alabama to a first-place finish. He was a Golf Coaches Association of America honorable mention All-America.
Hamrick finished the season No. 70 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings.
– Ron Balicki Posted June 16
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. – Bronson Burgoon’s message was clear - he wants to make the U.S. Walker Cup team later this year.
“That’s why I’m not turning pro, “ said the recent Texas A&M graduate. “I hope Coach [Buddy Mariucci] knows that.”
Burgoon said he intends to play the Southern Amateur, U.S. Amateur and Western Amateur this summer.
A strong showing at the U.S. Open probably won’t hurt his cause either.
– Adam Schupak Posted June 15
Just got off the phone with UNCW’s Josh Brock and boy is he excited to be playing this week at Bethpage Black. Brock sounded like a kid in a candy store when he described his run-ins with Jim Furyk and Padraig Harrington.
His experience will only get better this week. Today he has a practice round with Steve Stricker and Justin Leonard, Tuesday he’ll be paired with Zach Johnson and Wednesday Brock will play with Henrik Stenson.
Brock’s brother Eddie will be caddying for Josh, but the Seahawk rising junior hopes to make the cut at the U.S. Open so he can give his dad one heck of a father’s day present: the chance to caddy at a U.S. Open.
– Asher Wildman Posted June 15
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Wonder why recent Georgia grad Brian Harman mised a U.S. Open sectional qualifier on Monday? He explains.
“It’s going to sound childish, my mom is my coordinator, scheduler,” Harman said. “We had the qualifier scheduled for Tuesday and and I was actually driving up to Atlanta when I got a text from a buddy who said, ‘Hey, why did you DNS?’ I was actually driving up there for a practice round, or so I thought. I had actually no idea until Monday about 1 o’clock that the qualifier was that day.”
– Mike Dudurich Posted June 13
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Arnold Palmer had one of those “nice” days on Saturday.
The 79-year-old Palmer and some family members and friends made the 30-mile trip from Latrobe, Pa., to Johnstown Saturday afternoon to watch Palmer’s grandson, Sam Saunders, play in the third round of the Sunnehanna Amateur. Palmer rode around the course in a golf cart and watched him play the back nine.
A short while after Saunders finished his round of 71, the Palmer entourage left Johnstown for Somerset, Pa., where Palmer was to be honored at the first course he designed, Indian Lake.
Nine holes were built at the course in 1967. The other nine didn’t open until 1995.
To honor Palmer, Indian Lake plans to unveil a wood-carved statue of Palmer, similar to the one of his father, Deacon, which sits on the left side of the 18th fairway at Latrobe Country Club. The statue will placed on top of a stump in the middle of the 11th fairway. The stump was part of a tree that Palmer left in that fairway as a design feature. The tree died and blew down several years ago, much to Palmer’s chagrin.
The 445-yard par 4 was originally the opening hole when the course opened in 1967. Additionally, the statue will be surrounded by a flower bed in the shape of an umbrella, duplicating the colors and design of Palmer’s signature logo. A bronze plaque will be placed on a small retaining wall, noting Indian Lake as Palmer’s first course design. – Mike Dudurich Posted June13
The U.S. Open hopes of UC Santa Barbara rising junior Scott Lewis just got a little better.
Lewis suffered one of golf’s cruel fates Monday, losing in a 4-for-3
playoff at the U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Saticoy Country Club in
Somis, Calif. He is now the first alternate.
Robert
Karlsson withdrew from the Open on Friday, putting pro Andrew Svoboda
into the field. Lewis could get into the Open field Sunday depending on
who wins the PGA Tour’s St. Jude Classic this week.
There is a
spot in the Open reserved for the winner of the St. Jude Classic, if
the St. Jude is his second victory since the ‘08 U.S. Open and he is
not already exempt to Bethpage.
Only a handful of players at
the St. Jude fit that criteria, but 36-hole leader Brian Gay is one of
those players. Lewis will get in the Open if the St. Jude winner does
not fit that criteria.
Lewis played four events last year for
the Gauchos, finishing 11th at the St. Mary’s Invitational and sixth at
the Wyoming Desert Classic.
– Sean Martin Posted June 12
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Brendan Gielow of Muskegon, Mich., goes to college at Wake Forest, but there’s no doubt about where his rooting interests are.
Gielow was followed during his second-round 68 by his grandfather and his grandfather’s friend, who was proudly wearing a bright red Detroit Red Wings hat.
“Oh my gosh, yes. I’ll be watching,” Gielow said when asked if he planned to be in front of a television for Friday night’s Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals between Detroit and Pittsburgh. “I’m a big Red Wings fan. We’re staying at a hotel, not sure where we’re going to watch it.”
In the interest of fairness, Johnstown’s Matt Moot made his way around the course in 73 for the second straight day. Today, however, Moot wore black slacks, a gold shirt and a Penguins hat.
– Mike Dudurich Posted June 12
One name that I don’t think has been mentioned enough during the Walker Cup chase is former South Carolina All-American Mark Anderson. He won last year’s Players Amateur by five shots, then beat Rickie Fowler in a playoff at the NEC Master of the Amateurs in Australia, one of the top events in the world.
Anderson is in second halfway through the Sunnehanna. If he can maintain that placing, I hope he starts getting serious consideration, if he’s not already.
Anderson finished his college career in 2008, so he wasn’t able to state his Walker Cup case during this past college season, but he can make up for that quickly with some strong finishes in amateur events. And no one can question his passion for the Walker Cup; he has stayed amateur for the past year with hopes of making the U.S. team.
He is No. 20 in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com World Amateur Rankings, and No. 7 in the U.S. – Sean Martin Posted June 12
Yesterday I wrote five names of guys I would consider for making this year’s U.S. Walker Cup. Today I offer up five more to keep a close eye on.
1. Brian Harman - When I spoke to Brian at the NCAA Championship, he said he didn’t want to jump on the turning pro bandwagon because he wanted to represent his country. Buddy Marucci was on hand at Inverness to see his dramatic victory over Rickie Fowler, which Harman punctuated with a birdie on 18. Harman is what I like to call ‘the spark’. He gets guys fired up and they feed off his energy.
2. Tyson Alexander - There’s always a guy that quietly flies under the radar and this summer I think it will be Tyson Alexander. For the last couple of years he was in the shadow of Billy Horschel. Tyson is a hard worker, and seems like one of those guys that will shoot even every day. When it comes to match play that sometimes is more than enough to win.
3. Zack Sucher - Zack has had an impressive amateur career. He has won the Azalea Invitational, Cardinal Amateur, was runner-up last summer at the Porter Cup, and was the 2008 Conference USA Player of the year. Oftentimes when coaches are asked about his game, they say he is ready for the next level. I would like to see him in Red, White, and Blue first this summer while we still have some eligibility left on that amateur career.
4. Danny Green - Like that wouldn’t be entertaining to see!
5. Cameron Tringale - This is going solely on what he did at the Palmer Cup. Tringale went 3-0-1 with wins in the foursome and four-ball matches. With results like that it makes me comfortable to know that you can pair him up with somebody and they can go out and get it done. It doesn’t hurt that he qualified for the U.S. Open and was a first-team All-American this year.
– Asher Wildman Posted June 12
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – This was the kind of day it was for Corey Nagy in the first round of the Sunnehanna Amateur.
He had an early tee time, the sixth group of the day. The Charlotte, N.C., resident played a nice front nine, then went 5 under on the back to shoot 66.
Just after he finished, a thunderstorm halted play and the field went to the clubhouse for lunch. Soon after, players started filing into an adjacent room where there was a pool table and pingpong table.
Nagy proceeded to mow down as many opponents (5) in pingpong as he shot under par on the back nine. He even whipped the best local player who was touted as the club’s best.
“It was a good day, a very good day,” Nagy smiled. – Mike Dudurich Posted June 11
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – U.S. Junior Amateur champion Cameron Peck proved he can play with the pros, carding a 1-under 69 in the first round of the St. Jude Classic.
“I dropped a couple long putts,” he said in the understatement of the day.
Peck dialed long distance from 26, 37 and 46 feet for three of his five birdies. He needed only 23 putts total. A double bogey on the fifth hole and two other bogeys kept him from being among the leaders.
“I could’ve had a really good round today,” he said. “Under par in a pro tournament, I’m excited.”
– Adam Schupak Posted June 11
Walker Cup captain Buddy Marucci has always been open about his selection process. He’s about team chemistry, guys that will come together and not play as individuals. Two years ago he hit a home run at Royal County Down as those 10 men looked like a fraternity pledge class.
Here’s some guys I would consider putting together for this summer’s squad. I will do five today and five tomorrow.
Rickie Fowler - This is my only lock. He was 3-1 last Walker Cup and without question one of the best, if not the best, amateur in the world.
Morgan Hoffmann - He’s a teammate of Rickie at Oklahoma State and has the game to back it up. He’s a big strong kid, who takes the game seriously on the course, but is all smiles off it. It is safe to say he has pretty good chemistry with the Cowboy mentioned above.
Skip Berkmeyer - You have to have at least one mid-am on the squad and I think this Missouri native should be considered. He totally fits the stereotype of “one of the guys,” and he works his tail off when he competes. He’s a husband, dad, business owner and an amateur golfer in the summer. I believe he wants it badly after speaking to him in the fall, and if he can pull some top 10s together, perhaps he’ll crack the line-up. Mike Van Sickle - I know he only went 1-3 at the Palmer Cup, but you can’t dispute his game. The recent Marquette grad had a successful senior campaign where he won a handful of tournaments. This summer he will be playing in more “big time” tournaments where he will hopefully get the chance to prove he can compete with the best.
Mike McCoy - If Berkmeyer won’t be a mid-am on this year’s squad then I think McCoy will be the one. Several players at nationals said his game looks sharp and that he’s a tough competitor. Last summer he won the Trans-Miss Match Play Championship, and was a semi-finalist at the Mid-Am. He also finished third at the Azalea Invitational and sixth at the Jones Cup earlier this year.
– Asher Wildman Posted June 11
TROWLEY BOTTOM, England – Representatives from 15 countries made it into match play at the Ladies’ British Amateur Championship at Royal St David’s in Harlech, Wales.
England has the majority of competitors in the knock-out stages with 17 players. Scotland ranks second with nine. Holland, Sweden and Germany have five players each. There are four players from Spain and Canada, and three each from Wales, Ireland and France. Italy has two runners with one each from Mexico, Australia, Israel and the United States.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 11
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Cameron Peck’s smile is so wide his cheeks must ache. He’s been smiling a lot since he arrived in Tennessee last Friday, one day after attending his final day of high school. And playing a lot of golf too – he’s already logged 90 holes this week before he tees off June 11 in the St. Jude Classic (oh, to be 17 again).
Peck played 36 holes Saturday and Sunday to learn the golf courses he would play at the U.S. Open sectional qualifier Monday and the TPC Southwind, where he makes his second Tour start (he missed the cut last fall at the Wyndham Championship).
A frown appeared on Peck’s face ever so briefly when he discussed failing to advance to the U.S. Open at the 36-hole qualifier. But the smile returned as he recounted the experience of playing in it with Tour pros Paul Goydos and Aron Price. And his smile grew wider when he talked about hitting balls next to Bob Tway and Tom Pernice Jr. after kicking back with a routine 18 holes Tuesday.
“It’s just so cool to be around all these guys I watch on TV all the time and I’m finally out here and it’s like I can’t believe I’m out here.”
Peck also had dinner with James Oh and lunch with Jason Gore.
“He’s my favorite player I’ve met,” Peck said.
When we parted, I told him in jest to try to smile a little and have some fun.
“I already am,” he said.
– Adam Schupak Posted June 10
TROWLEY BOTTOM, England – Spanish golfers have enjoyed a pretty good run in the Ladies’ British Amateur Championship in recent years. I’m betting that run continues this year.
My money is on either Arizona State players Carlota Ciganda or Azahara Munoz winning the 2009 title at Royal St David’s this Saturday.
I’m not exactly going out on a limb here. They finished as co-medalists on 8-under par, five shots ahead of Alabama’s Camilla Lennarth of Sweden. They are also Nos. 2 and 3 in the Golfweek/Sagarin College Rankings.
Four Spaniards have won the Ladies’ British since 2001. Only an upset can stop it becoming five of the past nine.
– Alistair Tait Posted June 10
U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying is over and there are 14 amateurs still standing. Some qualifiers we expected to see at Bethpage, but others can be considered a surprise.
How about this blast from the past? Way back when, Harry Rudolph was one of the best junior and college players in the country. Now 39, and after a not-so-impressive try in the pro ranks, Rudolph is a reinstated amateur who recently made it through U.S. Open local qualifying and missed earning a spot in this year’s championship by just two shots in sectional qualifying.
Rudolph still has plenty of talent. It’ll be interesting to see how much he’ll be able to play – and what events he plays – this summer.
– Ron Balicki Posted June 10
TROWLEY BOTTOM, England – It’s debatable whether the R&A has made the right decision on the choice of course for the match play stages of next week’s British Amateur Championship.
Formby and West Lancashire Golf Club play host to the qualifying rounds for next week’s British Amateur. Competitors will play a round on each with the top 64 and ties making it through to the match play stages.
The knock out rounds will take place at Formby, which might surprise many people. Although Formby is an excellent course, there will be a contingent of true links lovers who would prefer the match play rounds to be held over West Lancashire.
West Lancashire is arguably the most underrated course in the British Isles. It is certainly the least well known on the Southport string of great links, a run of courses that includes Royal Birkdale, Hillside, Southport & Ainsdale, Formby, Wallasey and Hesketh.
I didn’t realize how good West Lancashire was until I covered the 2004 Brabazon Trophy there. I couldn’t believe how good the layout was, especially the par-3s. The 184-yard, par-3 6th hole is one of the best one shot holes in British golf.
Unlike Formby, West Lancashire is pure links, so it’s perhaps strange that the R & A didn’t opt for the knockout stages to be held on that layout.
Formby is a mixture of links and parkland golf, albeit mainly links. Coastal erosion meant the loss of three holes in 1972. Three holes, 7,8 and 9, were built into mature pine trees so that golfers playing the layout for the first time receive something of a shock when they step onto the 7th tee. You go from trying to avoid heather off the fairway to trying to stay out of trees.
Formby has held the British Amateur twice before – 1967 and 1984 – while West Lancashire has never staged the game’s premier amateur tournament. On that basis alone I’d have opted for West Lancashire.
–Alistair Tait Posted June 10
TROWLEY BOTTOM, England – Irish golfers are giving the Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup captain Colin Dalgleish and his team of selectors something of a headache this year.
Shane Lowry started the ball rolling. The burly Irish player was almost guaranteed a place in the 10-man GB & I team at the start of the season. However, he passed on the chance to play at Merion September 12-13 when he shocked the world of golf by winning the European Tour’s Irish Open and promptly turned professional.
Dalgleish and his team just got over that problem when they were presented with two more in the shape of Niall Kearney and Alan Dunbar. Although the GB & I captain would be the first to admit these are two welcome problems.
Only the most die hard of college golf aficionados will know anything about Kearney. He attended East Tennessee State, another in the long line of British and Irish players coach Fred Warren has built his program around. However, Kearney didn’t last long. He’d hardly unpacked his bags in Tennessee when he decided college golf wasn’t for him and returned home.
The Dubliner started the season as a member of the 28-man GB & I Walker Cup squad, from which the majority of the 10-man team will be picked. Lowry’s departure greatly helped his chances of becoming one of the Irish representatives on the GB & I team. Kearney’s subsequent victory in the Brabazon Trophy means he is practically pencilled into the team right now. A good run in next week’s British Amateur Championship at Formby would seal his place.
Dunbar is also a member of the GB & I squad, but most didn’t rate his chances of making the 10-man team. His victory in the St Andrew’s Links Trophy changes that view. That win will have made the selectors sit up and take notice.
Throw in fellow Irish squad members Dara Lernihan, Paul Cutler and UCF’s Simon Ward and it should be interesting to see which Irish players make the GB & I team.
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