From the US Amateur: Day Three Recap

Today we moved into Match Play. I was assigned the referee for the 1:00 p.m. match. This is way different than Stroke Play. As the referee, you are a big part of the match, as evidenced by the introductions at the first tee. I can tell you that I had butterflies when the Starter announced my name to the crowd, and I didn’t even have to hit a shot. I got caught up in the emotion of being on the first tee at Pebble Beach, playing a key role in the US Amateur wherein 1929 Bobby Jones stood as well. That thought, along with trying to visualize Jones, clad in a jacket & tie and his plus fours, playing with hickory-shafted clubs and a golf ball that flew nowhere compared to today’s golf balls, stayed with me throughout the day. But being a referee, you have to remain focused at all times. It’s easy to get distracted, especially when these players hit it so well…and far!

The players in my match were Australia’s Blake Windred, ranked 49th in the world, and Chinese Taipei’s Chun An Yu. Yu is also a standout at Arizona State and qualified to play in the US Open at Shinnecock earlier this year. Introductions take place on the Practice Putting Green where we discuss with the players the key differences between stroke play and match play, and about my role as the referee. This USGA custom, referred to as the “putting clock” is done for all championships that have a stroke play qualifier and then move into match play. After the “putting clock,” we move to the first tee for the normal introductions to the gallery by the Starter, and we’re off!

After halving the first with pars, Yu made three on the second, normally a par 5 but played as a par four for this championship. That set the tone for the match and Yu led the rest of the way. After birdies at 4, 5 & 6, Yu’s lead was 4-up. On the iconic 7th, Yu’s tee shot looked like it was destined for the hole when it struck the bottom of the flagstick and took an unlucky bounce across the green. The players halved that hole with pars, and then a birdie at 8 put Yu 5 up. Windred was even par through 8 holes and FIVE DOWN! Windred won the 9th with a par after Yu’s second on the long par 4 found the Lateral Water Hazard. Yu stole the 10th with a bogey and with that, also stole any momentum that Windred might have had. Both halved the 11th with bogeys. I love that hole! Just like the 4th…a short par four up the hill and both holes with greens so small they could fit into your living room! Yu birdied the 12th and found himself dormy (6 up with 6 to play). Both players halved the 13th with pars and Yu was the winner 6 & 5!

Rulings were minimal…both players often asking who was away. Had to get Windred out of some gopher holes on the left side of the 6th, and then assisted Yu with his search and ultimately his drop under penalty of one stroke when his ball found the Lateral Water Hazard to the right of the 9th green. We actually found his ball but rather than attempt a shot out of the deep grass, he elected to proceed under the Water Hazard Rule and drop a ball outside of the hazard with a penalty stroke.

Today I have the 10:30 a.m. match between Bradford Tilley of Easton, CT, Medalist in the 2017 US Mid-Amateur vs. Kristoffer Reitan of Norway. Reitan played in the US Open earlier this year at Shinnecock Hills. My biggest challenge will be getting from this match to our Champions Dinner at Mayacama this evening, but Zach will be standing by with his opening remarks in the event that I should meet up with the typical Bay Area Traffic!

And tomorrow’s assignment…the first round of the Annual Championships of Mayacama Golf Club…another Major!!!

Stay tuned!

The Havemeyer Trophy

The likely suspect was a carelessly tossed cigarette butt at the Saturday night dinner dance, but whatever the reason, The Atlanta Constitution’s Monday headline read, “Loss of Prized Trophies Mourned by Golfers Here.” In the early hours of Nov. 22, 1925, the magnificent, fire-proof East Lake Golf Club had burned to the ground for the second time in 13 years.

It seems that no club history is complete without a chapter heading that reads, “The Fire.” But East Lake was supposed to be different. The members had their one blaze in 1914 and rebuilt the clubhouse according to stringent specifications, including the installation of insulated piping around all electrical wiring and fire-proof roof beams. But the club burned a second time anyway, and lost in the flames was the most coveted prize in American golf, the Havemeyer Trophy, given each year to the winner of the U.S. Amateur Championship.

Click here to continue reading about the Havemeyer Trophy

Click on the link below for some fast facts about the US Amateur Championship, and stay tuned for daily reports from Ted from Pebble Beach.

And click here for the Home Page for the US Amateur:

More player information:

Mayacama Golf Club
1240 Mayacama Club Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
707.569.2906