Schoolcraft Advances to Match Play of U.S. Amateur

Aug. 14, 2012

NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma men's golfer Michael Schoolcraft advanced to the match-play portion of the U.S. Amateur Championship Tuesday at the Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

Schoolcraft, entering his junior season at OU, carded a two-round 142 (+1) to finish stroke play in a tie for 39th place, two shots clear of the 64-man (plus ties) cutoff. Of the 310-man field, 67 golfers advanced to match play.

"For the stroke play portion, I played conservative and managed my game well and hit it in spots where I could score the best," Schoolcraft said. "The thing I did poorly was simply hitting the ball. I was really struggling hitting the ball tee to green well, so I had to change my game plan a little bit off the tees."

Schoolcraft recorded a 1-under 69 Monday at the CommonGround Golf course to finish the opening round in a tie for 32nd. The Englewood, Colo., native followed with a 2-over 73 in the second round, played at the Cherry Hills Country Club, his home course.

I love competing on my home course," Schoolcraft said. "It feels great and it's special to have this kind of tournament at my home course. But most of all I'm comfortable out here and I have my mom's home cooking."

Sophomore Charlie Saxon also qualified for the event, but a 9-over 80 in the opening round was enough to keep him from advancing to match play. Saxon ended on a positive note with a 2-over second round, finishing in a tie for 228th place.

"It was obviously a great experience to be able to play in an event like the U.S. Am," Saxon said. "I entered the week confident and expecting to play well but unfortunately I struggled off the tee the first round, which you can't do at Cherry Hills, especially at a U.S. Am. I was pleased to somewhat right the ship for the second round, but all in all it was a very disappointing week; but an experience that I wouldn't trade."

Bobby Wyatt of Alabama finished first in the stroke-play portion of the event, carding a two-round 132 (-9). Wyatt fired a 7-under 64 in the opening round to take control of the top spot, and never let up.

Schoolcraft will face Zack Munroe in the first round of match play. The pair will tee off at 10:40 a.m. at the Cherry Hills Country Club course.

"I'll work on a couple things before my first match and tweak a couple things on my swing," Schoolcraft said, "but I'm just going to play aggressive and try to get up in the match and stay up."

Schoolcraft Advances to Match Play of U.S. Amateur

Players Mentioned

Charlie Saxon

Michael Schoolcraft

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Schoolcraft Advances to Match Play of U.S. Amateur

Related News

Players Mentioned

Charlie Saxon

Michael Schoolcraft

Related Videos

Sponsors