Tag: Oakmont

U.S. Amateur final match preview: Staff picks, what to expect Sunday at Oakmont Country Club

Everything you need to know for the final match of the 121st U.S. Amateur.

OAKMONT, Pa. — Earlier this week 312 of the best male amateur golfers in the world made their way to Western Pennsylvania for the 121st U.S. Amateur.

After two rounds of stroke play, four lengthy weather delays and five rounds of match play, just two players remain standing tall.

North Carolina junior Austin Greaser will square off against Michigan State fifth-year senior James Piot in Sunday’s 36-hole final match at the famed Oakmont Country Club.

From Sunday’s television schedule and start time to staff picks and a preview, here’s everything you need to know for the final match of the 121st U.S. Amateur.

[vertical-gallery id=778121760]

Greaser vs. Piot, 9 a.m.

It’s tough to single out which player has the advantage in the final match.

If we’re being honest, the only reason Greaser didn’t end his semifinal match earlier was because he leaked a little oil down the stretch with a couple rare mistakes to let Vick back in it with a pair of pars. He powered through the adversity and clutched up when he needed to, which isn’t an easy task at Oakmont with 30-plus friends and family all watching in the gallery of hundreds.

Over five matches at Oakmont, Greaser has trailed for just six holes and hasn’t been down more than one. His length off the tee goes a long way at the hilly track outside Pittsburgh, and he’s walking the course with an infectious swagger that’s truly fun to watch.

That said, let’s not sleep on Piot’s chances.

The Spartan has stormed through match play in convincing fashion, winning three of his five matches by a 4-and-3 margin. He’s confident in his game and the work he’s put in this summer, and it shows out on the course. He’s got a knack for falling behind early on the first hole but has found a way to bounce back.

If it’s a tight match down the stretch, advantage Piot.

How to watch

Golf Channel: 3-4 p.m. ET

NBC: 4-6 p.m. ET

Staff picks

Lance Ringler: Austin Greaser

Julie Williams: Austin Greaser

Adam Woodard: Austin Greaser

[listicle id=778073458]

An ambitious James Piot keeps on rolling into U.S. Amateur final match at Oakmont

After working on his putting this summer, Piot is now rolling into the U.S. Amateur final.

OAKMONT, Pa. — Earlier this year James Piot spent some time in Pinehurst, North Carolina, to work on his putting before the summer amateur schedule.

Piot knew if he wanted to improve he needed to take a hard look at his mechanics to break “a continuous pattern of just being a streaky putter.”

What better test is there than the tricky greens at Oakmont Country Club? The Michigan State senior has been rolling the ball with the flat stick and after another 4-and-3 win on Saturday afternoon – this time at the expense of North Florida’s Nick Gabrelcik – finds himself in Sunday’s final match of the 121st U.S. Amateur.

“After being the No. 2 seed last year I knew I was capable of getting it done and making match play and from there anything can happen,” Piot said after his round. “So I just told myself one shot at a time and we’ll see.”

The Canton, Michigan, native shot rounds of 73 and 67 at Oakmont and the nearby Longue Vue Club, respectively, to finish T-29 in stroke play and earn the No. 31 seed. After a strong test from Arizona State’s Cameron Sisk in the Round of 64, Piot has blown through the rest of his matches, earning 4-and-3 wins in the Rounds of 32, 16 and today’s semifinal. On Friday evening in the quarterfinals he dispatched Matthew Sharpstene, a semifinalist last year at Bandon Dunes, 3 and 1.

[vertical-gallery id=778121760]

“It’s been confidence booster after confidence booster,” Piot said of his recent success, noting how the NCAA Championship in May was a bit of a letdown after missing the cut playing as an individual. “I just told myself I’ve been playing so much great golf but just keep pushing and don’t stop grinding. It’s paid off.”

Last season with the Spartans, Piot set the school’s scoring average record at 71.3 and became the program’s first player to reach the NCAA Championship as an individual since 2002.

Early on at Michigan State, head coach Casey Lubahn asked Piot what were his goals for college golf.

“I said, ‘I want to be an All-American.’ He at first laughed and goes, ‘How about we just start off at All-Big Ten or something like that.’ I said, ‘No, coach, I want to be an All-American,'” explained Piot. “I’ve always had high goals, and that’s been something that has driven me from day one, just going over the top, and they’re paying off now.”

Talk about ambition. Piot, who will be a fifth-year senior in East Lansing when he returns to campus later this month, knew he was coming back to Michigan State as soon as the NCAA offered up an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Another year of college is a no brainer since Michigan State is such a great spot,” Piot said with a smile.

In four years at Michigan State Piot’s become a leader for Lubahn’s crew and has amassed five impressive wins, including two Golf Association of Michigan titles (2018 and 2021) and three collegiate victories.

He’s now 36 holes away from adding another trophy to the case, that is if he can take down Austin Greaser.

The North Carolina junior had trailed for just three holes in four matches entering his semifinal bout against Texas’ Travis Vick, and the Vandalia, Ohio, native came out swinging again on Saturday.

Greaser and Vick traded 1-up leads on the front nine Saturday afternoon and made the turn all-square. Vick won the par-4 10th with a birdie, but then Greaser flipped a switch with wins on Nos. 11-14 thanks to three birdies to take a 3-up lead, the largest margin of the match. With his back against the wall and Greaser leaking a little oil, Vick took advantage and fought back to win the next two holes with par to cut the lead to just one. A Greaser birdie on the par-4 17th sealed the deal for the Tar Heel, 2 and 1.

“It fits my eye really, really well,” said Greaser of his success this week at Oakmont. “I think it allows me to take advantage of my length a lot. I think if you watch today and watched all week I hit driver a lot. I think just get it down there. There is a lot of trouble on this golf course, and I would rather be in the trouble way down instead of the trouble way back.”

[listicle id=778073458]

U.S. Amateur semifinal preview: What to expect Saturday at Oakmont

Everything you need to know for Saturday’s showdown.

OAKMONT, Pa. — Four players not only outlasted the loaded field of 312 of the world’s best male amateurs, but also weathered the storms this week outside Pittsburgh to punch their tickets to the semifinals of the 121st U.S. Amateur.

For the first time in three days, play wasn’t suspended due to dangerous weather at Oakmont Country Club, allowing the Rounds of 32, 16 and the quarterfinals to all be completed on Friday.

North Carolina’s Austin Greaser will square off against Texas’ Travis Vick at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Michigan State’s James Piot against North Florida’s Nick Gabrelcik at 2:20 p.m. ET.

With each match intriguing in its own way, here’s a preview of what to expect in Saturday’s semifinal showdowns.

Greaser vs. Vick

On paper this match couldn’t be closer.

Greaser has trailed for just three holes over four matches at Oakmont. He hasn’t played the 18th hole since his second round of stroke play. Vick has trailed just four holes and only one of his matches, a hard-fought quarterfinal against Brian Stark, went the full 18 holes.

Both players were all-conference selections as sophomores last season, and each has kept the ball rolling this summer. Greaser was a semifinalist two weeks ago at the Western Amateur, while Vick finished third at the Sunnehanna Amateur in June.

Piot vs. Gabrelcik

Unlike the first match, both players in this one had different roads to the semifinals.

Outside of his Round of 64 clash with Cameron Sisk, a 1-up win, Piot has cruised through match play with a pair of 4-and-3 wins in the Rounds of 64 and 32 and a 3-and-1 victory in the quarters. Gabrelcik is a bit more battle-tested this week, with three of his four bouts going the full 18. The match that didn’t? A 2-and-1 grind against Western Amateur champion Michael Thorbjornsen, the player many picked as the favorite this week.

Despite the close calls, Gabrelcik has been in control of his matches and hasn’t needed to mount a late comeback, nor has Piot. Expect another close one.

Semifinals

2 p.m. ET – Austin Greaser vs. Travis Vick

2:20 p.m. ET – James Piot vs. Nick Gabrelcik

TV/Streaming info

Saturday, Aug. 14

Golf Channel: 3-4 p.m. ET
NBC: 4-6 p.m. ET

Sunday, Aug. 15

Golf Channel: 3-4 p.m. ET
NBC: 4-6 p.m. ET

Austin Greaser feels right at home at the U.S. Amateur at Oakmont, where he’s trailed for just three holes

Nobody has been more dominant this week at Oakmont than the North Carolina junior.

OAKMONT, Pa. — In four matches at the famed Oakmont Country Club, Austin Greaser has trailed for just three holes, all in one match.

The North Carolina junior was the first player to punch his ticket to the semifinals of the 121st U.S. Amateur on Friday afternoon, defeating Ross Steelman, 2 and 1. After a strong sophomore campaign with the Tar Heels, Greaser has continued his impressive run of form all summer long and is one of just four players still standing from this week’s original field of 312 of the world’s best male amateurs.

“Just riding the wave, man. Golf’s up and down and right now it’s up for me,” said Greaser after his quarterfinal win. “Just trying to enjoy it and take advantage of it and just make it last as long as I can. I feel like my swing’s really in a good slot right now. It’s got a lot of good feels and my head’s in a good spot and the putter’s in a good spot. Match all those things up and we’re playing some pretty good golf.”

Pretty good golf? Talk about a classic undersell.

Greaser shot rounds of 69 and 70 at Longue Vue Club and Oakmont, respectively, in stroke play to finish T-20 and earn the 24th seed. He never trailed against Bo Andrews in the Round of 64, where he won, 2 and 1. In his Round of 32 match against Xavier Marcoux, he trailed on Nos. 5-7 before winning six of the next 10 holes to win, 3 and 2.

The Vandalia, Ohio, native made quick work of Jacob Bridgeman Friday morning in the Round of 16, winning 6 and 4, and steadily put away Steelman in the afternoon. He never trailed once on Friday.

[vertical-gallery id=778121760]

On top of that, Greaser was a semifinalist two weeks ago at the Western Amateur and earned five top-10 finishes this spring at North Carolina.

Despite growing up across the state line near Dayton, Ohio, and being 500 miles from campus, Greaser feels right at home this week for a handful of reasons, and it shows.

“I got a lot of my friends and family here. It means the world to me,” said Greaser of his support system, who let out an epic cheer after his quarterfinal win. “It’s a good four hours for us so it’s not horrible, but it’s not a short trip. So for them to come out here and support it means the world to me.”

Greaser also just loves a good, Midwest-style golf course, noting how Oakmont reminds him of Inverness in Toledo, Ohio, where he lost to eventual champion Preston Summerhays in the quarterfinals of the 2019 U.S. Junior.

“These courses just fit my eye, man,” said Greaser, who’s making his third U.S. Amateur start this week. But don’t let that fool you into thinking his past experiences in the championship have helped this week.

“I guess I’ve learned a lot the last two years but didn’t really even sniff the cuts and match play either year, so didn’t really have a whole lot to build off of,” explained Greaser while noting how last year’s championship at Bandon Dunes gave him a taste of wind he’s never felt. “Ever since then I’ve never felt like it was windy at all.”

2021 U.S. Amateur
Austin Greaser celebrates on the 17th hole after winning his match during the quarterfinals at the 2021 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021. (Chris Keane/USGA)

He’s also been working on his game between the ears.

“My head’s just in a better place this year,” said Greaser. “I’m just trusting myself, trusting the work I’ve put in and just letting my ability kind of do it or don’t do it. It’s golf, not every day you’re gonna have it but just go out there with the best mental mindset and just take care of business from there.

“Sometimes the chips fall your way, sometimes they don’t and just kind of got to take it in stride.”

His chip count is higher than the rest still at the table this week at Oakmont, with two big hands still to play.

[listicle id=778073458]

U.S. Amateur back on track as rain-softened Oakmont eases up in Round of 16

The first five matches all ended before the 17th hole.

OAKMONT, Pa. — After two rounds of stroke play and three of match play, eight players of the 312 originally in the field have weathered the storms this week at Oakmont and advanced to the quarterfinals of the 121st U.S. Amateur.

Dangerous weather in the area for the third consecutive day on Thursday pushed the completion of the Round of 32 to Friday morning. The Round of 16 immediately followed, with the first five matches all ending before the 17th hole on the rain-softened course outside Pittsburgh.

Despite losing the first hole, Oklahoma State’s Brian Stark earned the biggest margin of victory with his defeat of Grayson Blunt, 6 and 5. Austin Greaser wasn’t far behind. The North Carolina junior never trailed in his match against Clemson’s Jacob Bridgeman that ended on the 14th green, 6 and 4.

“I think the rain last night and all this week has really softened this course up and made it a lot more gettable. You can attack a lot of pins that you probably wouldn’t be able to get after if it was playing like it usually does,” explained Greaser. “Just got to take advantage of it, because if you don’t, somebody will. Just trying to throw some darts, make some putts, and see where it lands.”

[vertical-gallery id=778121760]

After defeating his Texas teammate Parker Coody earlier in the morning, Travis Vick got out to a 2-up lead through three holes on Jose Islas and never looked back, winning 3 and 2. In one of the surprise results of the morning, Georgia Tech’s Ross Steelman earned a 3-and-2 win of his own over Florida’s Ricky Castillo, one of the favorites remaining in the bracket.

One of four players to finish last night, James Piot earned a second consecutive 4-and-3 win, this time taking down UC Davis’ Thomas Hutchison.

Things got interesting on the bottom half of the bracket, where the last three matches each went the full 18 holes.

Matthew Sharpstene led just twice in his match against Van Holmgren, on the 10th hole and the 18th. A semifinalist at last year’s U.S. Amateur at Bandon Dunes, Sharpstene made par on the last hole to earn the 1-up victory.

Nick Gabrelcik’s duel with Hugo Townsend was the lone match to go to extra holes. Gabrelcik, a three-time winner as a freshman last season at North Florida, never trailed but lost a 1-up lead on the 18th hole due to a clutch birdie from Townsend. The rising sophomore for the Ospreys got the job done on the first extra hole after stuffing his approach shot inside three feet for birdie.

The runner-up in 2018 at Pebble Beach, Devon Bling was 3 up through 12 holes but lost five of the last six holes, including the decisive 18th to lose by one to Davis Chatfield.

“Honestly, like 3 down here I feel like isn’t that much. It can go so quick. Almost did for me my Round of 64 match,” said Chatfield. “I just stuck to my game plan. I made it simple. Fairways and greens will most of the time do you pretty well out here. Just lucky to capitalize on some of the mistakes he made on the back. He made a couple bogeys. I just parred my way in and got it done.”

The quarterfinals began shortly after the early matches of the Round of 16 concluded. With more dangerous weather in the evening forecast, the plan is to complete the quarters, or as many holes as possible, on Friday.

Dangerous weather suspends play for third consecutive day at U.S. Amateur

Weather has a 3-up lead on the field this week at the 121st U.S. Amateur.

OAKMONT, Pa. — Weather has a 3-up lead on the field this week at the 121st U.S. Amateur.

Play was suspended for the third consecutive day on Thursday at Oakmont Country Club when dangerous weather in the area halted the Round of 32 at 6:35 p.m. ET. Only four of the 16 matches finished. Two matches are in extra holes.

David Nyfjall, the Northwestern senior who advanced to match play from a 12-for-1 playoff, defeated top-seed and local favorite Mark Goetz with a 24-footer on the 18th green earlier in the day. Later in the evening his Round of 32 opponent, Florida’s Ricky Castillo, made a 26-footer to send their match to extra holes. The two were on the 21st hole when play was suspended.

UC Davis senior Thomas Hutchison hasn’t trailed in his match against Arizona State commit Luke Potter. Tied on the 18th green, Potter got a good look at the line but lipped out from five feet for the win. The two weren’t able to finish their first extra hole before the horn sounded.

Ross Steelman, a recent Georgia Tech transfer, was the first player to punch his ticket to the Round of 16, earning a 2-and-1 win over Auburn’s John Marshall Butler.

Two down through six holes, North Carolina’s Austin Greaser mounted a comeback on Rutgers’ Xavier Marcoux with wins on six of the next 10 holes, ending the match on the 16th green, 3 and 2.

Michigan State’s James Piot was next up with his defeat of good friend Eddy Lai, 4 and 3. Piot never trailed and was 5-up through 11 holes.

Van Holmgren and TCU’s Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira were tied through the first five holes before Holmgren won three of the first four after the turn, ultimately moving on with a 4-and-3 win of his own.

With more inclement weather expected throughout the day on the Friday, the current plan is for play to resume at 7:30 a.m. ET.

How to watch

All times listed are ET. Subject to change.

Friday, Aug. 13
11 a.m. to noon, Peacock
Noon to 2 p.m., Golf Channel
Saturday, Aug. 14
3 to 4 p.m., Golf Channel
4 to 6 p.m., NBC
Sunday, Aug. 15
3 to 4 p.m., Golf Channel
4 to 6 p.m., NBC

[vertical-gallery id=778121760]

North Florida’s Nick Gabrelcik continues impressive year of results at U.S. Amateur at Oakmont

After an impressive freshman campaign at North Florida, Gabrelcik is still rolling this summer at the U.S. Am.

OAKMONT, Pa. — Nick Gabrelcik knew his game was something special back in 2018.

The Trinity, Florida, native was a junior at JW Mitchell High School and won the state match play that year, as well as a few junior events. The next summer he earned low-amateur honors at the 2019 Florida Open.

“That was the turning point where I knew I could compete with these guys on a regular basis,” Gabrelcik said on Thursday at the 121st U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club. The rising sophomore at North Florida won a hard-earned match against Liberty’s Kieran Vincent, 1 up, to continue what’s been an impressive year of play.

As a freshman for the Ospreys, Gabrelcik won three events and finished inside the top 10 in seven of nine tournaments. He set a program season record with 69.59 stroke average thanks to only four rounds over par.

“Just playing amateur events, playing against college kids as a junior leading up to college, it really got me comfortable with them,” said Gabrelcik. “I knew a lot of them and I’ve succeeded against a lot of them, so I just took that into college and ultimately worked out.”

[vertical-gallery id=778121760]

Gabrelcik shot rounds of 69 and 71 in the stroke-play portion of this week’s USGA championship, finishing T-29 at even par to earn the No. 35 seed and a match against Vincent, who provided a stout test in the first round of match play. Gabrelcik held a 3-up lead with four holes to play, but Vincent clawed his way back into the match thanks to a few miscues from Gabrelcik down the stretch.

“Normally my ball striking is the strength of my game. Unfortunately, that was kind of going away towards the end,” said Gabrelcik. “I don’t know if it was nerves or anxiousness to finish the match. I just talked to my brother who’s one of my closest friends, he’s my caddie, and he was telling me, ‘Calm down, you’ve done this before.’

“Me and him we were joking around a lot on the course just trying to keep the mood light and not get too serious,” Gabrelcik explained. “I know Kieran, too. We’re both in that Atlantic Sun Conference, so we knew each other.”

After losing Nos. 15 and 17, Gabrelcik settled down and clutched up, making par on the 18th to advance to the afternoon’s Round of 32 against one of the hottest players left in the field, recent Western Amateur champion and Stanford sophomore Michael Thorbjornsen.

“Normally towards the end of the round here I would have got frustrated but I’ve learned over the years that just keeping calm is always the better way to go,” said Gabrelcik. “Hopefully throughout the next few matches I don’t lose it towards the end but I know that I can obviously go out here and play well, win a match. Hope I can carry it to the next match.”

[lawrence-related id=778123165,778123028,778123019]

Texas Longhorn teammates Parker Coody, Travis Vick to meet in U.S. Amateur Round of 32

A pair of Texans will lock horns in the U.S. Amateur Round of 32.

OAKMONT, Pa. — A pair of Texans will be locking horns in the Round of 32 at the 121st U.S. Amateur.

Parker Coody and Travis Vick, teammates on the Longhorns men’s golf team, each won their Round of 64 match on Wednesday at Oakmont Country Club to set up the all-Texas duel in the afternoon. Coody defeated Jack Parker, 1 up, while Vick took down Preston Summerhays, 2 and 1.

“I actually played Travis at the Maridoe Amateur in match play (last December), so I’m hoping for the same result. I won, 2 and 1, and I don’t let him forget it,” Coody said with a laugh. “Yesterday he was like, ‘You better win your match because I’m going to go beat you.’ I’m like, ‘Once we get there, we’ll see how it goes, Travis.’”

Texas: Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play

[vertical-gallery id=778121760]

After another nearly four-hour weather delay on Wednesday, Coody and Parker finished nine holes before the day’s action was called due to darkness. Starting the morning 2 down, Coody thought the delay was a benefit because he got a chance to reset.

“I felt like I was playing a lot better than my score was. I was like 1 or 2 over on the front. I felt like I was doing a lot better than that,” explained Coody. “I just kept the ball in front of me. Jack made a few mistakes, and as match play goes, you have to capitalize on those. I was fortunate enough to do that.”

The two are scheduled to play at 2:10 p.m ET.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=none image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Split tees? Multiple weather delays force rare change of schedule at U.S. Amateur at Oakmont

The USGA was forced to make a rare change to the schedule of the U.S. Amateur.

OAKMONT, Pa. — After yet another lengthy rain delay at the 121st U.S. Amateur, the U.S. Golf Association is shaking things up with this week’s schedule.

In a rare move for the organization, the Round of 32 and Round of 16 at Oakmont Country Club will have players go off on split tees on Thursday and Friday, respectively, after a second consecutive day of play was rocked by another nearly four-hour weather delay.

The Round of 64, scheduled to finish on Wednesday, will be completed Thursday morning after Tuesday’s second round of stroke play at Oakmont and nearby Longue Vue Club was pushed to Wednesday morning. The horn blew on Wednesday afternoon just as a 12-for-1 playoff for the final match-play position was starting, also halting the start of the Round of 64.

Wednesday’s action was called due to darkness at 7:50 p.m. ET.

[vertical-gallery id=778121760]

Despite the delay, one match was able to finish Wednesday evening at Oakmont, which earlier in the day was announced as the USGA’s second anchor site for future championships. Florida junior Ricky Castillo got out to an early lead against Donald Kay – who had former Haskins Award winner Norman Xiong on the bag – thanks to wins on four of the first five holes. Castillo never lost a hole in the match, ultimately winning, 5 and 4.

“I was just really excited to get back out there after the weather delay,” said Castillo. “I think all of us just wanted to go out and play golf and we were sick and tired of sitting in the locker room for a few hours. Just got off to a hot start, hit few good shots, made a few good putts, and just never looked back from there. It was a good match.”

2021 U.S. Amateur
Ricky Castillo stretches out in the locker room in the middle of a rain delay during the second round of stroke play at the 2021 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. (Justin Aller/USGA)

Castillo arrived at the course at 6:15 a.m. ET and had to finish seven holes from his second round.

“It was nice finishing the match before it got dark and everything, because I know it’s going to be tough, especially since I have momentum in the match. When you sleep on it, momentum can change quickly. So I was glad to finish the match like that.”

The Round of 64 will continue Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. ET, with the first matches of the Round of 32 slated to start at 1:30 p.m. ET off the 1st and 10th holes.

Pittsburgh local, West Virginia senior Mark Goetz earns medalist honors at U.S. Amateur at Oakmont

Goetz grew up 40 minutes away and shot his personal-best round at Oakmont to earn medalist honors.

OAKMONT, Pa. — Talk about a birthday gift.

A day after celebrating his 23rd trip around the sun on Tuesday, Pennsylvania local Mark Goetz earned medalist honors at the 121st U.S. Amateur, finishing the two rounds of stroke play at Longue Vue Club and Oakmont Country Club at 8 under with rounds of 64 and 68, respectively.

The fifth-year senior at West Virginia made just one bogey over the 36 holes, and it came on Wednesday morning during the continuation of the second round after play was halted for four hours due to a weather delay and stopped due to darkness on Tuesday night.

“It’s the most memorable two days of my career by a mile, there’s nothing that will even come close,” Goetz said on Tuesday. “This place can beat you to your core. It’s disgustingly hard. If you play scared out here, you’re a little bit tentative, man it’ll bite you in the butt so fast. So I really didn’t have any expectations this week, and it’s because of how difficult this place is.”

Goetz grew up in nearby Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and estimated that he’s played Oakmont a dozen or so times in his life. His 2-under 68 is his lowest score ever at Oakmont by three shots.

“I’m comfortable with where I’m at, for sure. My pace has been great on the greens this week. My caddie and I have made some great decisions and some really good reads from some pretty long and difficult putts,” explained Goetz. “I would just say comfortable with where I’m at.”

Goetz pointed towards his win last season at the Mountaineer Invitational, the first victory of his college career, as one of his key achievements thus far, and opened up on the struggles that led him to this week’s top seed.

“College golf for me has been very, very difficult,” said Goetz. “I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to play at West Virginia. I wasn’t heavily recruited and I pretty much went from square one there. I had to earn my spot and prove myself and I really wasn’t on a scholarship up until my junior year. Going from square one to being left at home and really struggling to being able to get a win in college and help the team out was, it’s kind of like comeback complete. That did a lot for me.”

After a nearly four-hour long delay on Tuesday, play was once again halted at 12:54 p.m. ET Wednesday during a 12-for-1 playoff for the final match play spot.

Three hours and 55 minutes later, the playoff and Round of 64 began. Starting on the par-4 15th, Joe Alfieri, Nicholas Dunlap and David Nyjfall each made birdie to extend the playoff to the 18th tee. Alfieri, a 52-year-old who made the field as an alternate, was eliminated with a bogey while, sending Dunlap and Nyjfall back to the 18th tee. Nyjfall, a senior at Northwestern, advanced with another par to set up a meeting with the top seed Goetz.

[vertical-gallery id=778121760]