Former IJGT Competitors Dominate The US Am

UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA -- This past weekend, the 110th U.S. Amateur Championship wrapped up at Chambers Bay in Washington.  Traditionally a tournament where the cream of the Junior golf crop rises, and this year was no exception.  It was a very successful week for past IJGT players.  Oklahoma State junior and former IJGT champion Peter Uihlein avenged his loss in last year's quarterfinals by defeating Stanford sophomore David Chung 4&2 over 36 holes on Sunday.  Uihlein had to prevail over international golfers from Chinese Tapei and Argentina in the opening rounds.  He then battled John Hahn before winning the match 5&4.  That led to an emotional victory in the semifinals over fellow IJGT competitor, OSU teammate and friend Morgan Hoffman.  After Saturday's match, Uihlein geared up for Sunday's grueling 36-hole championship round.  Other former IJGT member also had a strong presence throughout the championship.  A total 9 former IJGT competitors advanced to the Round of 64 by competing over 2 rounds of stroke play on two different courses.  Kevin Tway, a senior at OK St., posted 71-74 to qualify as the 31^st seed, but dropped a heartbreaker in the first round of Match Play.  Hoffmann, also a junior at Oklahoma St., earned the 14^th seed after rounds of 73-71.  Hoffmann also had an impressive match play tournament where he advanced to the quarterfinals.

     Patrick Cantlay (freshman UCLA) led the way with impressive rounds of 70-67 to take the #2 overall seed.  He rode his great play into the semi-finals where eventual champion Peter Uihlein defeated Cantlay 4&3.  Tommy McDonagh (Penn St. senior) shot 71-75 to qualify as the 33^rd , before losing to Brad Benjamin 6&5.  Florida St. senior, Drew Kittleson qualified for the Round of 64 with a qualifying score of 145.  Richard Werenski (freshman Georgia Tech), shot 69-78 to advance as the 46^th seed.  Werenski won his first match and then faced fellow former IJGT member Hoffman in the 2^nd round where he lost 6&4.  McDonagh's freshman teammate at PSU, Michael Miller, fired rounds of 73-75 to make the field as the 58^th seed.  Amory Davis (senior Virginia) advanced to a 16 person playoff for the final 6 spots after shooting 70-79, where he survived the playoff to make the Round of 64 as the last qualifier.  As the 64^th seed, Davis upset the #1 overall seed Jeff Wilson by winning 3&1 before bowing out to Benjamin 3&2.

     Congratulations to all of the IJGT members and former participants for a tremendous showing at the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship.