It isn’t easy to beat the odds and make the match-play bracket at the U.S. Amateur.
After all, you have to finish in the top 64 out of a field of 312 in the 36-hole stroke-play portion of the event.
This year, the Colorado contingent fell short of the mark. None of the seven players with strong Centennial State connections extended his stay past Tuesday in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
AJ Ott of Fort Collins just missed out, finishing one stroke out of a playoff for the final match-play berths. The Colorado State University golfer shot rounds of 73-72 at Riviera Country Club and Bel-Air Country Club to post a 5-over-par 145 total, good for a share of 70th place. But playing his final eight holes in 3 over par — despite a birdie on 18 — proved costly.
Two former University of Colorado golfers were next best among locals. Former CGA Player of the Year Steve Irwin of Arvada bounced back from a first-round 79 with a 1-over-par 71 on Tuesday at Bel Air, finishing with a 150 total. And Kenny Coakley of Phoenix also checked in at 150 after consecutive 75s.
Steve Irwin’s dad, three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin, was among the spectators at the U.S. Am. Hale won the first of his two U.S. Senior Opens at Riviera CC, in 1998.
Oklahoma State golfer Hayden Wood, son of former PGA Tour player and 1984 Colorado Open winner Willie Wood, earned medalist honors by going 64-67 for a 9-under-par 131 total in stroke play.
Match play will begin on Wedesday.
U.S. Amateur
In Pacific Palisades, Calif.
FAILED TO ADVANCE TO MATCH PLAY
70. AJ Ott of Fort Collins 73-72–145
154. Steve Irwin of Arvada 79-71–150
154. Former CU golfer Kenny Coakley 75-75–150
199. Li Chen of Broomfield 77-75–152
233. Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village 77-77–154
233. CU golfer John Souza 77-77–154
279. CSU golfer Parathakorn Suyasri 79-79–158
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
