U.S Amateur Championship

[Tiger90]

How good do you have to be to qualify for the US am?  I know a few guys who played this year in it, they are each a few strokes better than me, but it makes me wonder what you have to shoot to qualify.  Side note, all 3 of these players missed the cut, but one was 2 strokes off the cut...and how you go about qualifying

[Tiger90]

and i know i misspelled Amateur lol

[jamo]

You need a 2.4 handicap: https://champs.usga.org/index.html

[Tiger90]

yeah, but not all 2.4 index's get to play haha.  do you know how to qualify? i think its something like qualifying within your state/province first, but im not sure

[Pope33]

Yes, I know in Wisc we have one qualifying sites all around the state (like 5 sites), from there I believe the top 3 or 5 go on to a final qualifying site in Wisc before a national qualifying site. I knew one guy that made it into the second round of match play (which was quite impressive). It all depends obviously on the course and the conditions of what you have to shoot. Somewhere near par would give you a chance on any course.

[Ben]

Yes, you have to qualify regionally first. Once you get past regional, then you are on the the actual event. Check USGA.org once March or April comes around for details on regional qualifying sites.

US Am is Brutal! I caddied for my friend (Sam) this last year and he was one of only three players (of 76 entrants) at his regional site to qualify. Here's the leaderboard... He did it! But it was a grind! Its amazingly hard to get through. Then once you are at the US Am site you have to get through the stroke play cut, to get to compete in the match play format. Its not impossible of course, people do it. But these are the top Ams in the country. Its equal to qualifying for the US Open as a professional.

[cougar978]

Originally Posted by Ben

Yes, you have to qualify regionally first. Once you get past regional, then you are on the the actual event. Check USGA.org once March or April comes around for details on regional qualifying sites.

US Am is Brutal! I caddied for my friend (Sam) this last year and he was one of only three players (of 76 entrants) at his regional site to qualify. Here's the leaderboard... He did it! But it was a grind! Its amazingly hard to get through. Then once you are at the US Am site you have to get through the stroke play cut, to get to compete in the match play format. Its not impossible of course, people do it. But these are the top Ams in the country. Its equal to qualifying for the US Open as a professional.

I feel bad for the kid that flew in there from Hawaii to go 85-87.  That has to suck.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by cougar978

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben

Yes, you have to qualify regionally first. Once you get past regional, then you are on the the actual event. Check USGA.org once March or April comes around for details on regional qualifying sites.

US Am is Brutal! I caddied for my friend (Sam) this last year and he was one of only three players (of 76 entrants) at his regional site to qualify. Here's the leaderboard... He did it! But it was a grind! Its amazingly hard to get through. Then once you are at the US Am site you have to get through the stroke play cut, to get to compete in the match play format. Its not impossible of course, people do it. But these are the top Ams in the country. Its equal to qualifying for the US Open as a professional.

I feel bad for the kid that flew in there from Hawaii to go 85-87.  That has to suck.

I do not actually feel bad for someone who lives in Hawaii and is able to fly in to compete in a golf tournament.

[cougar978]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I do not actually feel bad for someone who lives in Hawaii and is able to fly in to compete in a golf tournament.

Maybe his parents had to go broke to send him there - you never know.

[mvmac]

Yes I would say the scores that Ben posted are correct, around even for 2 rounds.  I once tripled the last hole to miss the playoff by 1

[Tiger90]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

I do not actually feel bad for someone who lives in Hawaii and is able to fly in to compete in a golf tournament.

Good Call.  Does suck, but im sure other people have bigger things to worry about in Hawaii than shooting 85-87 in a golf tournament lots of people would love to play in.  That being said, i do appreciate the post by Ben.  Keep 'em comin!

[Tiger90]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Yes I would say the scores that Ben posted are correct, around even for 2 rounds.  I once tripled the last hole to miss the playoff by 1

Im sure i would have done the same...although it would have been trippled the first to not even have a chance.  That is a huge difference between pro's and am's.  They dont screw up like that for the most part, and are usually able to recover a little better...mental mental mental

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by Tiger90

Im sure i would have done the same...although it would have been trippled the first to not even have a chance.  That is a huge difference between pro's and am's.  They dont screw up like that for the most part, and are usually able to recover a little better...mental mental mental

It was a really windy day and had 150 uphill into a strong gust on 18.  Flushed a 6-iron, hit it about 5 yards over the green, bounced and went into the parking lot behind the green.  Just one of those shots.  Like I said in the Pro vs Am thread, low point control.

[Ben]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Yes I would say the scores that Ben posted are correct, around even for 2 rounds.  I once tripled the last hole to miss the playoff by 1

Ouch

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Yes I would say the scores that Ben posted are correct, around even for 2 rounds.  I once tripled the last hole to miss the playoff by 1

Originally Posted by Ben

Ouch

[underparnv]

Somewhat related: If you're interested in getting into these kinds of things, it sometimes better to start off on the local/state level, then moving up from there. I also try to qualify for the USGA Public Links which has a bit less intimidating handicap index limit of 3 something (I believe...can't remember off the top of my head).

For the local/state level, if you're of age, you can play in the state Mid-Am championships too. Dang...I feel old just typing that. :)

Any tournament you can play in will make you better...I promise that. :)