THE FLATS – Looking to complete a strong finish to an already successful summer on the amateur circuit, Georgia Tech’s Bartley Forrester, Christo Lamprecht and Ross Steelman begin competition Monday at the 122nd United States Amateur Championship at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J.
The Yellow Jacket threesome looks to return the Havemeyer Trophy, given to the champion, to the Tech campus after Andy Ogletree and Tyler Strafaci won the title back-to-back in 2019 and 2020. Matt Kuchar won the championship in 1997, and Bobby Jones was crowned five times between 1924 and 1930.
The championship begins with 36 holes of stroke play Monday and Tuesday at Ridgewood Country Club and Arcola Country Club in Paramus, with each of the 312 players playing one round on each course. The top 64 finishers, with ties resolved in a playoff if necessary, begin match-play competition Wednesday, culminating in a 36-hole championship match Sunday. All matches will be played at Ridgewood.
A co-medalist at the U.S. Amateur final qualifier at the Standard Club in Johns Creek, Ga., in late June, Forrester is in the field for the second straight year. Ranked No. 75 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the Gainesville, Ga., senior has won the Monroe Invitational and tied for sixth place in the Southern Amateur in his last two starts.
Lamprecht, ranked No. 42 in the WAGR, is in the field for the first time, earning his spot last Monday based on his top-50 position. The George, South Africa junior led the International team to victory in the Arnold Palmer Cup and tied for ninth place at the European Amateur Championship earlier this summer.
Steelman, ranked No. 25 in the WAGR, advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2021 U.S. Amateur at Oakmont, Pa., earning a return trip this year. The Columbia, Mo., senior was the 72-hole stroke-play medalist and won his first-round match at last week’s Western Amateur, and also was the stroke-play runner-up and won his first-round match at the North & South Amateur in early July.
Ridgewood Country Club will measure 7,487 yards and play to a par of 71 for the championship, while Arcola Country Club is a par-70 layout measuring 7,256 yards. A total of 7,749 players entered the championship, all but 63 qualifying at 94 different sites to fill out the 312-player field. James Piot of Canton, Mich., was the 2021 champion.
The U.S. Amateur brings to a conclusion what has been a successful amateur season for Georgia Tech golfers. Aside from Forrester’s victory at the Monroe Invitational, senior Andy Mao won the Southeastern Amateur in late July and junior Aidan Kramer won the Rice Planters Invitational in June. Senior Connor Howe won the Patriot All-America Invitational in December.
THUMBNAIL SKETCHES ON GEORGIA TECH COMPETITORS
Bartley Forrester, Senior, Gainesville, Ga. – Ranked No. 75 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, No. 41 in the Scratch Players Amateur Ranking on the eve of the NCAA Championship, jumping more than 150 spots over the course of the spring and summer … Won the Monroe Invitational in Pittsford, N.Y., by three strokes with an 11-under-par score of 269; holed out from 72 yards for eagle-2 at the par-4 17th hole to secure the victory … Tied for sixth at the Southern Amateur in St. Simons Island, Ga. (271, -13) … Qualified for U.S. Amateur for second time, was co-medalist at the U.S. Amateur qualifier in Johns Creek, Ga., with rounds of 67-69 (-8) at The Standard Club … Finished third at the Dogwood Invitational in Atlanta (272, -16) … Tied for 30th at the Western Amateur in Highland Park, Ill. (284, even) … GCAA honorable mention All-America, All-East Region and All-ACC performer who enjoyed the best year of his career, posting four top-10 finishes and three other top-20s in 11 events … Earned All-America status with a top-15 finish at the NCAA Championship, posting a 6-over-par 286 total with a closing 68 … No. 81 in the Golfstat ranking and No. 69 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Index, the highest positions of his career … Has two collegiate victories – the 2022 Calusa Cup and the 2020 Puerto Rico Classic.
Christo Lamprecht, Junior, George, South Africa – No. 42 amateur player in the world according to the World Amateur Golf Ranking and No. 50 in the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking (as of August 10, 2022) … Named to compete for the International team at the 2022 Arnold Palmer Cup in July, and for the South African team to compete at the 2022 World Amateur Team Championship in Augusta … Tied for ninth place at the European Amateur Championship in Valencia, Spain (287, -1) … Went 3-1 in his matches to help the International team defeat Team USA, 33-27, in the Arnold Palmer Cup in Switzerland; won both of his mixed foursomes matches with Heather Lin of Taiwan and defeated 15th-ranked Travis Vick of Texas, 3&2, in his singles match … Third-team All-American by Golfweek magazine, honorable mention by Golf Coaches Association of America … Also made the All-ACC team and earned GCAA All-East Region honors on the strength of six top-10 finishes in 12 events, including a tie for third in ACC Championship stroke play (205, -11) … Won both of his individual matches, 1-up over FSU’s Michael Sakane and 5&4 over Wake Forest’s Mark Power … Finished the spring as Tech’s highest-ranked player in the nation – No. 27 by Golfstat and No. 27 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Index.
Ross Steelman, Senior, Columbia, Mo. – Ranked No. 25 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, and No. 10 in the Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking … Finished 10th in the Elite Amateur Series standings … Medalist in stroke play at the Western Amateur in Highland Park, Ill. (270, -14), won his round of 16 match against Adrien Dumont de Chassart, 5&4, before falling in quarterfinals to Travis Vick, 2&1 … Tied for second place in stroke play (69-66, -9) at the North & South Amateur in Pinehurst, N.C.; advanced to the round of 16 in match play after defeating Joshua Bai (2&1) in opening round … Tied for 11th at the Sunnehanna Amateur in Johnstown, Pa. (280, even) … Tied for 33rd at the Southern Amateur in St. Simons Island, Ga. (277, -7) … Recorded six top-10 finishes in 11 starts, including a runner-up finish at the NCAA Columbus Regional (206, -7) and a solo sixth-place finish in ACC Championship stroke play (207, -9) … Halved his ACC semifinal match vs. Florida State in 19 holes (unfinished when Tech clinched third point in another match) and lost his finals match 1-up to Wake Forest’s Michael Brennan … Finished spring season ranked No. 141 in Golfstat and No. 114 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Index.
U.S. AMATEUR SCHEDULE OF COMPETITION
- Monday, Aug. 15 (18 holes, stroke play)
- Tuesday, Aug. 16 (18 holes, stroke play)
- Wednesday, Aug. 17 (Round of 64, match play)
- Thursday, Aug. 18 (Round of 32 matches)
- Friday, Aug. 19 (Quarterfinal matches)
- Saturday, Aug. 20 (Semifinal matches)
- Sunday, Aug. 21 (36-hole championship match)
BROADCAST/STREAMING SCHEDULE
- Wednesday, Aug. 17 (Round of 64): 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT (Peacock)
- Wednesday, Aug. 17 (Round of 64): 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. EDT (Golf Channel)
- Thursday, Aug. 18 (Round of 32): 11 a.m. to Noon EDT (Peacock)
- Thursday, Aug. 18 (Round of 32/16): Noon to 2 p.m. EDT (Golf Channel)
- Friday, Aug. 19 (Quarterfinals): 11 a.m. to Noon EDT (Peacock)
- Friday, Aug. 19 (Quarterfinals): Noon to 2 p.m. EDT (Golf Channel)
- Saturday, Aug. 20 (Semifinals): 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. EDT (Golf Channel)
- Sunday, Aug. 21 (Championship Match, Afternoon 18): 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. EDT (Golf Channel)
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
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ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Georgia Tech’s golf team has completed 27 years under head coach Bruce Heppler, winning 70 tournaments in his tenure. The Yellow Jackets have won 18 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 31 appearances in the NCAA Championship and been the national runner-up four times. Connect with Georgia Tech Golf on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GTGolf) and Instagram. For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.