‘Dores at the US Am

In the most presitigous and competitive amateur golf tournament in the world, three Commordores made it to the Round of 32, while Will Gordon made it to the Quarterfinals.

The US Amateur is takes over 300 amateur golfers from around the world. Starting on Monday, August 13, the field plays two rounds of stroke play. The field is winnowed to 64 golfers for six rounds of single elimination match play. This year, 24 players qualified for the last spot in the field of 64 and had to play a hole-by-hole sudden death playoff the morning of the first round of match play. For being an older, sometimes self-important association, the USGA can really get into Hunger Games style competition.

Harrison Ott, the 59th seed player in the the match play portion lost to Viktor Hovland, the 27th seed player from Norway 2&1 (meaning Hovland had a two hole lead with only one hole left to play). Ott took the lead on the 2nd hole, but went back to all square by the 3rd. He battled to back AS on the 8th but lost the lead and did not regain it.

John Augenstein, the 10th seed, lost to McClure Meissner, the 42nd seed from San Antonio Texas. Auggie was two up at the 11th hole but lost the lead by the 13th. He never regained it, eventually losing the 17th hole and the match.

Will Gordon’s Round of 16 match was a back and forth battle, changing leads four times and playing six holes at AS. Gordo won the 17th to go up one and then closed the door by winning the 18th.

He went down one on the first hole in his Quarter Final match, never to gain the lead. Playing down by as much as four holes, Gordo bounced back to be one down thru the 15th hole. He lost the 16th and tied the 17th, which needed to extend the match.

The Commodores have completed their individual performances for the Summer and will resume team play at the Carmel Cup in late August, coincidentally played at Pebble Beach.