2023 US Amateur Qualifying July 6-July 7
It was a quick flight down to Atlanta, Georgia from North Carolina after the North & South. I got to spend a couple days catching up with friends from school and just hang out which was nice. I drove over to Decatur, Alabama for the US Amateur qualifier where the top 6 players would get into the tournament and the next 2 would be alternates for the event (if people were to WD). The course (Burningtree Country Club) was relatively easy if you could keep it straight off the tee, not overly long but very tree lined. The greens were a little on the slower side after coming from Pinehurst and were a grainy bermuda grass which I’m not the biggest fan of but I was determined to put in a good performance on the greens.
I teed off in the middle of the Alabama heat the first round at 12:50pm from No. 10. I got off to a good start and was -2 through the first 4 holes. Making a 10 footer for birdie on the par 4 11th and 2 putting from 13 feet for birdie on the par 5 13th. After a 3-putt bogey on 14 from 33ft and a sloppy bogey on the short par 4 17th I made the turn at even par. I remained at even par through 12 holes when play was suspended due to an afternoon thunderstorm that was rolling in.
Play resumed at 7:30am the next day where I managed to make a couple of good pars followed by a birdie at the 175m par 3 6th which gave me some momentum. I missed a couple of good birdie opportunities on the last 3 holes but managed to sign for a 1-under par 70 with some pretty average golf. It was looking like 6 or 7 under would be in the top 6 so I knew I needed a good round in the afternoon to give myself a chance.
I started off with a good birdie on the first, holing a 13 footer followed by a good par at the tough 430m par 4 2nd, just what I was looking for. After a string of pars and a few missed looks at birdie I hit it to 1ft from 97m at the par 4 7th, followed by an up and down from the greenside bunker on the par 5 8th for another birdie. I chunked my 2nd shot off some dirt on the short 360m par 4 9th and then proceed to miss a 3 foot putt for par to record my only bogey on the round and turn in -2. I played a really solid back 9 and had plenty of opportunities for birdies. I hit it to 1ft again on the 11th from 90m. Didn’t get up & down from the fringe on the par 5 13th which resulted in a par. Hit it to 10ft for eagle on 16 from 220m and 2-putted. Took an aggressive line on 17 knowing I needed a birdie which paid off with a 3 footer for birdie. Then made a poor wedge swing on 18 and 2 putted from 30ft to sign for 66 -5.
-6 total ended up in a tie for 7th place (1 shot outside the top 6) which meant I had a 3-way playoff for the 1st and 2nd alternate spots. One of the guys birdied the first playoff hole and took the 1st alternate spot. I birdied the 3rd playoff hole and took the 2nd alternate spot which basically means I need 2 people from my qualifying site to WD from the tournament for me to get in (which is unlikely).
I hit the ball pretty well and unfortunately couldn’t get it going on the greens. I’ll be putting in some serious work on the greens in between rounds as I simply have to start holing some more putts to compete. The game is close and I’m looking forward to what’s coming up.
Next week I’m traveling to Dallas, Texas for the Trans-Mississippi Amateur at Brook Hollow Golf Club.
