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.
The Colorado State University golfer shot a 3-over-par 73 at Riviera Country Club — a PGA Tour venue — and shares 97th place out of 312 competitors at the halfway point of the stroke-play portion of the championship.
The Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s male player of the year in 2016, Ott made two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on Monday.
Only the top 64 players after Tuesday’s second round of stroke play will advance to match play, which begins on Wednesday. After Monday’s opening round, the 64th position fell at 2 over par.
Meanwhile, former University of Colorado golfer Kenny Coakley started with a 75, good for 152nd place. The rest of the local contingent shook out this way: CSU golfer Jake Staiano, CU player John Souza and the University of Northern Colorado’s Li Chen all had 77s, leaving them in 212th place; and Steve Irwin of Arvada and incoming CSU golfer Parathakorn Suyasri carded 79s for a share of 262nd place.
University of Oregon golfer Norman Xiong, of San Diego, Oklahoma State’s Hayden Wood, of Edmond, Okla., and Virginia Tech’s Mark Lawrence Jr., of Richmond, Va., shot 6-under-par 64s to lead the way after Monday.
Players will switch courses for the second round — going from Riviera to Bel-Air Country Club or vice-versa.
U.S. Amateur
In Pacific Palisades, Calif.
97. AJ Ott of Fort Collins 73 (Riviera)
152. Former CU golfer Kenny Coakley 75 (Riviera)
212. Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village 77 (Riviera)
212. Li Chen of Broomfield 77 (Riviera)
212. CU golfer John Souza 77 (Bel-Air)
262. Steve Irwin of Arvada 79 (Riviera)
262. CSU golfer Parathakorn Suyasri 79 (Bel-Air)
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.