Jacob Bridgeman tied the course record and has the lead after the first stroke play qualifying round at the US Amateur.
The Clemson rising senior shot a 7-under par 63 at Longue Vue Golf Club, one of two courses used for qualifying to advance to match play.
”It’s pretty cool that I tied the course record,” said Bridgeman. “The course is out in front of you, tricky greens, but it was definitely getable,” he said.
The second team All-American from Inman bettered his own low round at Clemson by a shot.
He has posted three rounds of 64 while playing for the Tigers.
Bridgeman carded six birdies and an eagle. His only bogey came on the 12th hole.
“They set it up to give us chances to make a lot of birdies and hold on on a couple holes. The par 3s played tough. All around, I’m pretty pleased,” said Bridgeman who played the par-3s even.
Taking nothing away from Bridgeman’s record tying round, the Longue Vue course is the easier of the two qualifying courses.
All but two of the top 50 scores in the first round were shot at Longue Vue.
The Oakmont Course, which will host all the Match Play rounds is much more difficult.
The best round shot at the main course was a 1-under par 69 by Cole Sherwood from Texas.
Hilton Head High School golfer Jonathan Griz shot a 2-under par 68 and is in a tie for 24th. Griz also played on the Longue Vue course.
Griz was the youngest winner of the SCGA Amateur when he won the state championship in 2020.
The next best scores turned in by Palmetto State golfers were made on Oakmont.
Georgia’s Trent Phillips from Inman is in a tie for 43rd place at even par.
USC Upstate incoming freshman Max Dupree finished the tougher course at 1-over par and is in a tie for 61st.
South Carolina All-American Ryan Hall shot a 2-over par to be tied for 83rd.
Spartanburg’s Todd White, playing in his 9th US Amateur, shot a 3-over par 73 at Longue Vue to be tied for 107th.
Upstate grad Hunter Fry is tied with White, but played Oakmont. Former Wofford golfer Ryan Marter and recent transfer to USC Upstate Brady Hinkle both played Oakmont and both are tied for 140th.
The 312 golfers are competing for 64 spots in the Match Play bracket.
USGA Amateur scores at https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2021/u-s–amateur.html#!scoring
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