One of the six players with strong Colorado ties made the grade and earned a spot in match play at the U.S. Amateur in Pebble Beach, Calif.
It just happened to be the newest addition to the state among this week’s competitors.
Dan Erickson, a Texas A&M golfer whose family moved to Loveland early this year, shot an even-par 71 on Tuesday at Pebble Beach Golf Links to post a 1-over 144 total for the stroke-play portion of the event.
That was good for a 24th-place showing out of 312 players, which easily was good enough to make the 64-man match play field. The first round of match play will take place on Wednesday.
Erickson (left), who fired a course-record 61 at Fort Collins Country Club en route to qualifying for the U.S. Am last month, made four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on Tuesday at Pebble Beach.
Erickson finished seven strokes behind stroke-play medalists Daniel Hillier of New Zealand and Cole Hammer of Houston.
None of the other players with strong Colorado connections came within five strokes of making match play.
Here are the stroke-play scores for the local players at the U.S. Amateur:
Advances to Match Play
24. Dan Erickson of Loveland 73-71–144
Failed to Advance to Match Play
182. CSU golfer Cullen Plousha 78-75–153
197. Austin Hardman of Highlands Ranch 78-76–154
210. AJ Ott of Fort Collins 79-76–155
257. Kyler Dunkle of Parker 78-80–158
280. Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch 82-79–161
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
