US Amateur Discussion

[DaddySwagMaster]

I'm surprised there isn't a thread devoted to this tournament, and I love match play.

 

We've got the semi-finals tomorrow with the winners punching their ticket to the Masters next April.

 

Stewart Hagestad must have a trust fund or something.  The Mid-Am champ from a year ago, at 31 years old, with the broomstick putter, bows out today in the quarter finals.

 

I'm rooting for Ben Carr from Georgia Southern.  He's got PGA Tour legend Will Wilcox on the bag, and he's hanging in there.  

 

Sam Bennett needs to be put in the "I'm gonna slow play you with 20 waggles a shot" hall of shame.  Dude literally stands over the ball at address for a good 20-30 seconds before pulling the trigger.  He makes Keegan Bradley look smooth and fast.

 

[jholz]

I was watching highlights from the round of 32 last night on youtube. Was stoked to see Stewart Hagestad still in the mix (yay mid-ams!). A shame he lost today.

 

I may well be proven wrong, but Menante looked like the guy to beat.

[kmbean]

Stewart Hagestad has a normal job as a financial analyst, Dan Hicks told me directly.

[bladehunter]

32 minutes ago, kmbean said:

Stewart Hagestad has a normal job as a financial analyst, Dan Hicks told me directly.

Lol. Yep.  Just like all the pga pros that make it into the pga major fold sweaters and give lessons to 28 handicaps all day !!    
 

Hagestad  is the old style am champ. The kind that looked down on professionals.  Because they have the money to able tp play for “ glory “ instead of a living.  But both are afforded the same practice and play time. 

[Dutch1008]

26 minutes ago, kmbean said:

Stewart Hagestad has a normal job as a financial analyst, Dan Hicks told me directly.

Pretty sure his Dad runs this place...

 

https://www.sares-regis.com/

 

I'm sure Jr is being groomed to take it over. 

[Ghost of Snead]

6 minutes ago, Dutch1008 said:

Pretty sure his Dad runs this place...

 

https://www.sares-regis.com/

 

I'm sure Jr is being groomed to take it over. 

 

Stewart is the Jeff Knox of the West Coast.

[kmbean]

Guys I’m pretty sure Stewart is grinding excel, dealing with a-hole bosses and eating at his desk everyday. 
 

I’m surprised his PTO was approved to compete in this US Am.

Edited August 19, 2022 by kmbean

[m d g]

Will try to watch.

 

We really enjoyed watching the women at Chambers Bay.

 

It was in much better shape than it was for the US Open...

[jholz]

Wow, this conversation has become weird. I know I'm missing something critical, but have no idea what it is.

 

Hey...that sounds like my golf swing!

[DaddySwagMaster]

39 minutes ago, kmbean said:

Guys I’m pretty sure Stewart is grinding excel, dealing with a-hole bosses and eating at his desk everyday. 
 

I’m surprised his PTO was approved to compete in this US Am.

He’s probably using the US Am as a tune up to defending his mid am titla. The fact that he got this far was probably just a bonus to him. 

[mark m]

Hitchner is from MN. He is one of the four in the semifinals.

 

Here is some info:

 

22 years old. Plays at Pepperdine.

 

Last year in MN:

Player of the year

He won the 54 hole state am (-15) - it may have been a record score. 
He competed last year in this event but I believe he didn’t advance to match play.

 

We wish him well. 
 

Edited August 19, 2022 by mark m

[jdl]

1 hour ago, DaddySwagMaster said:

 

 

Sam Bennett needs to be put in the "I'm gonna slow play you with 20 waggles a shot" hall of shame.  Dude literally stands over the ball at address for a good 20-30 seconds before pulling the trigger.  He makes Keegan Bradley look smooth and fast.

 

 

 

He and Hagestad got put on the clock at one point. Then I guess they caught up and back in position. The official who was commenting on TV made an odd comment, said the group isn't told they are off the clock, but if they asked then they could find out. 🙃

[DaddySwagMaster]

1 minute ago, jdl said:

 

He and Hagestad got put on the clock at one point. Then I guess they caught up and back in position. The official who was commenting on TV made an odd comment, said the group isn't told they are off the clock, but if they asked then they could find out. 🙃

I’d honestly have liked to see a match between Clegg and Bennett. With Clegg having 10 minute conversations with his caddie before every shot and Bennett making JB Holmes look fast, you could give those two an open course and have them tee off at sunrise and I doubt they finish 18 holes before dark. 

[Krt22]

5 minutes ago, DaddySwagMaster said:

I’d honestly have liked to see a match between Clegg and Bennett. With Clegg having 10 minute conversations with his caddie before every shot and Bennett making JB Holmes look fast, you could give those two an open course and have them tee off at sunrise and I doubt they finish 18 holes before dark. 

There were a few instances like this during the women's am too. It was pure pain

[jholz]

Sooooooo, I get the sense we are hoping that everyone in this competition loses?

 

I've only been watching highlights and don't have the intimate knowledge of the players, so clearly at a disadvantage. 

 

Seems like largely a putting contest. 

[chisag]

2 hours ago, m d g said:

Will try to watch.

 

We really enjoyed watching the women at Chambers Bay.

 

It was in much better shape than it was for the US Open...

 

 

... The women were just a treat to watch on a very interesting golf course. Just an amazingly high level of play. I loved that a wayward shot could still be played out of fescue. Not a fan of the very dense/deep rough for the men in match play. Great for a US Open when every shot counts but in match play I would rather see a great recovery than just gouging the ball out and moving on to the next hole. Personal preference of course but I was riveted to the women and find my mind wandering with the men. 

[jdl]

16 minutes ago, jholz said:

Sooooooo, I get the sense we are hoping that everyone in this competition loses?

 

I've only been watching highlights and don't have the intimate knowledge of the players, so clearly at a disadvantage. 

 

Seems like largely a putting contest. 

Well it is match play so putting is pretty important.

 

Menante and Bennett are both top 10 ranked ams and the other 2 are top 100 so it's a decent group but match play means a lot of good players went home already.

 

With the exception of a few guys like Hagested these top am events are dominated by college players so if you don't follow that you're probably not going to know who they are.

[golf1010]

Watched it live Wednesday thru Friday . Stew was off today. But Wednesday and Thursday he didn’t miss a shot. Course is long with rough you can’t really advance it from. Amazing Talent out there. So much more enjoyable then a pga tour event . The access to walk on the course makes the difference 

[getitdaily]

It's manente's to lose. Guy is good,tough, and very experienced. 

[TP693]

30 minutes ago, golf1010 said:

Watched it live Wednesday thru Friday . Stew was off today. But Wednesday and Thursday he didn’t miss a shot. Course is long with rough you can’t really advance it from. Amazing Talent out there. So much more enjoyable then a pga tour event . The access to walk on the course makes the difference 

Ditto to this.  I love being able to walk the fairways.  RCC is an awesome track by the way.  
 

Was pulling for the  “old guy” today, but his driver was a bit shaky.  Gotta give Bennett credit; once he pulled the trigger he was pretty strong.  

[MakersMarsh3]

I’m biased

 

But Sammy has beaten the like #27 #12 #10 #9 players in the world to this point

 

He’s the guy to beat

Gonna be an awesome match tomorrow

He and Menante are dawgs

Wish they were playing in the finals

[mosesgolf]

I love the US AM.  Legends always come out of here.  A feat never to be repeated is Tiger's 3 stragiht US Jr Am's followed by 3 straight US AMs.  How in the world did he every accomplish this.  

[So_Cal]

First off I’m super impressed by Ridgewood.  It’s not a course I knew much about.  Tillie combined with Hanse is always a great combo.  The ground staff have it it great shape for the competition.  Dare I say it’s more interesting on TV than Bethpage?  Love the 12th hole.  
 

Secondly the Am is great because guys want it so bad.  It’s for the glory as they’re not getting paid millions for the victory.  Yes, I’m burned out of that talk.  My favorite golf tournaments to watch every year are:

 

US Open

British

Masters

 

US Am

Women’s Am

 

PGA

 

All the kids remaining look great.  Best of luck to them this weekend. 

[jonsnow]

3 hours ago, chisag said:

 

 

... The women were just a treat to watch on a very interesting golf course. Just an amazingly high level of play. I loved that a wayward shot could still be played out of fescue. Not a fan of the very dense/deep rough for the men in match play. Great for a US Open when every shot counts but in match play I would rather see a great recovery than just gouging the ball out and moving on to the next hole. Personal preference of course but I was riveted to the women and find my mind wandering with the men. 

Careful with those rivets, chisag. Don't want to give anyone the wrong idea...

[3whacker]

Sam Bennett is an Aggie....who else would pump a club that much...Hubert Green maybe

[iBanesto]

On 8/20/2022 at 5:15 AM, kmbean said:

Stewart Hagestad has a normal job as a financial analyst, Dan Hicks told me directly.

 

Yeah right... a person named John Stewart Hagestad III has a "normal" job.

 

 

Love his golf bag from earlier this year.

 

Edited August 21, 2022 by iBanesto

[golfer929]

2 hours ago, MakersMarsh3 said:

I’m biased

 

But Sammy has beaten the like #27 #12 #10 #9 players in the world to this point

 

He’s the guy to beat

Gonna be an awesome match tomorrow

He and Menante are dawgs

Wish they were playing in the finals

Bennett vs. Gabrelcik was such a great matchup. Wish we could have gotten it in the Championship or Final Four instead of first round for them. Makings of a classic.

[farmer]

Today, there was one well-to-do career am, a bunch of college kids, and one junior in high school!  Bennett is treading perilously close to Sergio or Keegan in his pre-shot routine.

I have enjoyed the Women's Am and now the Men's AM.  Watching a tournament come down the stretch is exciting, but match play has more pure strategy.

Few things:  31 is not old unless it's 805 AD.  These kids, not a belly in sight, and they all HAVE HAIR. 

[PeteW]

1 hour ago, farmer said:

Today, there was one well-to-do career am, a bunch of college kids, and one junior in high school!  Bennett is treading perilously close to Sergio or Keegan in his pre-shot routine.

I have enjoyed the Women's Am and now the Men's AM.  Watching a tournament come down the stretch is exciting, but match play has more pure strategy.

Few things:  31 is not old unless it's 805 AD.  These kids, not a belly in sight, and they all HAVE HAIR. 

That kid from San Diego St. has flawless hair, should have been a teen in the 70s. 

[buckeyefl]

13 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Lol. Yep.  Just like all the pga pros that make it into the pga major fold sweaters and give lessons to 28 handicaps all day !!    
 

Hagestad  is the old style am champ. The kind that looked down on professionals.  Because they have the money to able tp play for “ glory “ instead of a living.  But both are afforded the same practice and play time. 

Friggin bingo.