Saturday, August 7, 2021

Inside the Numbers from the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship

A field of 302 golfers will tee it up for the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship beginning Monday at Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club.

Oakmont Country Club will be set up at 7,254 yards and will play to a par of 35-35–70. Longue Vue Club, which will serve as the stroke-play co-host course for the two days of stroke play, will be set up at 6,647 yards and play to a par of 36-34–70.

(NOTE: Yardages subject to change.)

Oakmont Country Club Hole By Hole

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total

Par 4 4 4 5 4 3 4 3 4 35

Yardage 482 340 426 609 382 194 479 288 477 3,677

Hole 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Total

Par 4 4 5 3 4 4 3 4 4 35

Yardage 462 379 667 183 358 500 231 313 484 3,577

Longue Vue Club Hole By Hole  

Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total

Par 4 4 3 5 3 4 4 5 4 36

Yardage 392 387 198 547 196 378 310 545 449 3,402

Hole 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Total

Par 3 4 3 4 4 5 3 4 4 34

Yardage 144 413 198 356 465 538 196 467 468 3,245

THE COURSES

Designed by Henry Fownes, Oakmont Country Club opened in 1903. Fownes spent a year building the course on former farmland adjacent to the Allegheny River Valley. The Pennsylvania Turnpike, which was constructed in the late 1940s, passes through part of the course. Oakmont was the nation’s first golf course to be recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Perched above the Allegheny River, Longue Vue Club was designed by Scottish architect Robert White, the first president of the PGA of America and the first to install a putting green on the White House Lawn. The course opened for play in 1922. A.W. Tillinghast oversaw renovations in 1935.

COURSE RATING AND SLOPE

Based on the course setup for the championship, the Course Rating™ for Oakmont Country Club is 76.7 and its Slope Rating® is 142. The Course Rating™ for Longue Vue Club is 73.3 and its Slope Rating® is 141.

WHO CAN ENTER

The USGA accepted 7,811 entries for the U.S. Amateur in 2021. The championship is open to amateur golfers with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 2.4. The 2020 championship featured a fully exempt field due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, the USGA accepted 7,191 entries. The record of 7,920 entries was set in 2016.

QUALIFYING

Qualifying, played over 36 holes at 93 U.S. sites and two international sites, was conducted between June 28-July 23. California had the most qualifying sites with 13, while Florida and Texas each had seven. Qualifiers also were conducted in Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Due to health and safety concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no qualifying for the 2020 U.S. Amateur.

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD

The starting field of 312 players will play 18 holes of stroke play on Aug. 9 and 10, one round on each of the two qualifying courses, after which the field will be cut to the low 64 scorers. Six rounds of match play begin on Aug. 11 and the championship concludes with a 36-hole championship match on Aug. 15.

SCHEDULE OF PLAY 

Practice rounds will take place Aug. 7-8. The championship schedule is as follows:

Aug. 9 (Monday): First round, stroke play (18 holes)

Aug. 10 (Tuesday): Second round, stroke play (18 holes)

Aug. 11 (Wednesday): Round of 64, match play

Aug. 12 (Thursday): Rounds of 32 and 16, match play

Aug. 13 (Friday): Quarterfinal round, match play

Aug. 14 (Saturday): Semifinal round, match play

Aug. 15 (Sunday): Championship match (36 holes)

2020 CHAMPION

Tyler Strafaci, 22, of Davie, Fla., rallied from an early 5-down deficit to defeat Southern Methodist University rising junior Charles “Ollie” Osborne, 20, of Reno, Nev., 1 up, in the 36-hole championship match at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Strafaci, a fifth-year senior at Georgia Tech, won his fourth consecutive match that was decided on the final hole. This time, he laced a 4-iron from 245 yards to 25 feet to set up a two-putt birdie, the 25th of the match between the two finalists. When Osborne, who pushed his 5-iron second from 212 yards to the right of the green, failed to convert his birdie from 18 feet, the match ended. Strafaci, who earned a spot on the 2021 USA Walker Cup Team with the victory, became a USGA champion like his grandfather, Frank, who won the 1935 U.S. Amateur Public Links. Strafaci’s victory also gave the Yellow Jackets a second consecutive U.S. Amateur champion after Andy Ogletree hoisted the Havemeyer Trophy in 2019 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club.

USGA AND OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB

Oakmont is hosting its 17th USGA championship. The U.S. Open was contested here in 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, 2007 and 2016. The U.S. Amateur was conducted at Oakmont in 1919, 1925, 1938, 1969 and 2003. The U.S. Women’s Open was played at Oakmont in 1992 and 2010.

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB

1919 U.S. Amateur: S. Davidson Herron def. Robert T. Jones Jr., 5 and 4

1925 U.S. Amateur:  Robert T. Jones Jr. def. Watts Gunn, 8 and 7

1927 U.S. Open: Tommy Armour def. Harry Cooper, 301 (76)-301 (79)

1935 U.S. Open: Sam Parks by two strokes over Jimmy Thompson, 299-301

1938 U.S. Amateur: William Turnesa def. B. Patrick Abbott, 8 and 7

1953 U.S. Open: Ben Hogan by six strokes over Sam Snead, 283-289

1962 U.S. Open: Jack Nicklaus def. Arnold Palmer, 283 (71)-283 (74)

1969 U.S. Amateur: Steve Melnyk by five strokes over Marvin Giles, 286-291

1973 U.S. Open: Johnny Miller by one stroke over John Schlee, 279-280

1983 U.S. Open: Larry Nelson by one stroke over Tom Watson, 280-281

1992 U.S. Women’s Open: Patty Sheehan def. Juli Inkster, 280 (72)-280 (74)

1994 U.S. Open: Ernie Els def. Loren Roberts, Colin Montgomerie 279 (74-4-4)-279 (74-4-5)-279 (78)

2003 U.S. Amateur: Nick Flanagan def. Casey Wittenberg, 37 holes

2007 U.S. Open: Angel Cabrera by one stroke over Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, 285-286

2010 U.S. Women’s Open: Paula Creamer by four strokes over Suzann Pettersen, Na Yeon Choi, 281-285

2016 U.S. Open: Dustin Johnson by three strokes over Jim Furyk, Scott Piercy, Shane Lowry, 276-279

MOST USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS HOSTED BY A CLUB (through 2020)

18         Merion G.C., Ardmore, Pa.

16         Baltusrol G.C., Springfield, N.J.

16         The Country Club, Brookline, Mass.

16         Oakmont (Pa.) C.C.

13         Pebble Beach (Calif.) G.L.

13         Winged Foot G.C., Mamaroneck, N.Y.

12         Chicago G.C., Wheaton, Ill.

11         Oakland Hills C.C., Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

10         Pinehurst Resort and Country Club, Village of Pinehurst, N.C.

10         The Olympic Club, San Francisco, Calif.

CLUBS THAT HAVE HOSTED THE U.S. OPEN, U.S. AMATEUR & U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN

Oakmont Country Club is one of 10 clubs that have hosted a U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Women’s Open. Oakmont is hosting the U.S. Amateur Championship for the sixth time this year. 

Atlanta Athletic Club, Johns Creek, Ga.: Open – 1976; Amateur – 2014; Women’s Open – 1990

Baltimore Country Club, Lutherville, Md.: Open – 1899; Amateur – 1932; Women’s Open – 1988

Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, N.J.: Open – 1903, 1915, 1936, 1954, 1967, 1980, 1993; Amateur – 1904, 1926, 1946, 2000; Women’s Open – 1961, 1985

Champions Golf Club, Houston, Texas: Open – 1969; Amateur – 1993; Women’s Open – 2020

Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colo.: Open – 1938, 1960, 1978; Amateur – 1990, 2012; Women’s Open - 2005

Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn.: Open – 1970, 1991; Amateur – 2006; Women’s Open – 1966, 1977

Newport (R.I.) Country Club: Open – 1895; Amateur – 1895, 1995; Women’s Open – 2006

Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club: Open – 1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, 2007, 2016; Amateur – 1919, 1925, 1938, 1969, 2003; Women’s Open – 1992, 2010

Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, Village of Pinehurst, N.C.: Open – 1999, 2005, 2014; Amateur – 1962, 2008, 2019; Women’s Open - 2014

Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, N.Y.: Open – 1929, 1959, 1974, 1984, 2006, 2020; Amateur – 1940, 2004; Women’s Open – 1957, 1972

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PENNSYLVANIA

The 2021 U.S. Amateur Championship will be the 88th USGA championship conducted in Pennsylvania. The Keystone State has hosted the most USGA championships, while California is second with 85. In 2022, Pennsylvania will host the Curtis Cup Match at Merion Golf Club, in Ardmore, and the U.S. Senior Open at Saucon Valley Country Club, in Bethlehem.

USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PENNSYLVANIA

U.S. Open (17): 1907, 1910, 1927, 1934, 1935, 1939, 1950, 1953, 1962, 1971, 1973, 1981, 1983, 1994, 2007, 2013, 2016

U.S. Women’s Open (9): 1952, 1959, 1968, 1971, 1976, 1996, 2009, 2010, 2015

U.S. Senior Open (3): 1989, 1992, 2000

U.S. Amateur (13): 1916, 1919, 1924, 1925, 1930, 1938, 1951, 1966, 1969, 1977, 1989, 2003, 2005

U.S. Women’s Amateur (14): 1899, 1904, 1909, 1919, 1923, 1934, 1949, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1985, 2003, 2004, 2016

U.S. Girls’ Junior (5): 1949, 1954, 1966, 1985, 1998

U.S. Junior Amateur (3): 1983, 1997, 1999

U.S. Senior Amateur (3): 1965, 1971, 1987

U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur (6): 1962, 1972, 1983, 1987, 2001, 2012

U.S. Mid-Amateur (2): 2014, 2016

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur (2): 1990, 2016

U.S. Amateur Public Links (5): 1928, 1934, 1957, 1965, 1969

U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links (2): 1980, 1997

Curtis Cup Match (2): 1954, 2002

Walker Cup Match (1): 2009

STATES HOSTING MOST USGA CHAMPIONSHIPS (as of Aug. 4, 2021)

87         Pennsylvania

85         California

74         New York

62         New Jersey

61         Illinois

57         Massachusetts

U.S. Amateur Championships in Pennsylvania (13):

1916: Merion Golf Club (East Course), Ardmore (Charles Evans Jr.)

1919: Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont (S. Davidson Herron)

1924: Merion Golf Club (East Course), Ardmore (Robert T. Jones Jr.)

1925: Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont (Robert T. Jones Jr.)

1930: Merion Golf Club (East Course), Ardmore (Robert T. Jones Jr.)

1938: Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont (William P. Turnesa)

1951: Saucon Valley Country Club (Old Course), Bethlehem (Billy Maxwell)

1966: Merion Golf Club (East Course), Ardmore (Gary Cowan)

1969: Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont (Steven Melnyk)

1977: Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square (John Fought)

1989: Merion Golf Club (East Course), Ardmore (Chris Patton)

2003: Oakmont Country Club, Oakmont (Nick Flanagan)

2005: Merion Golf Club (East Course), Ardmore (Edoardo Molinari)

OTHER CHAMPIONSHIPS AT OAKMONT

Oakmont Country Club has hosted three PGA Championships – 1922 (won by Gene Sarazen), 1951 (won by Sam Snead) and 1978 (won by John Mahaffey). The course has also been the site for three NCAA Championships (1916, 1930, 1937).

TELEVISION COVERAGE

The 121st U.S. Amateur will receive at least 15 hours of live coverage on NBC, Golf Channel and Peacock. Rolex is the exclusive presenting partner of coverage for eight USGA championships in 2021, including the U.S. Amateur. Rolex’s commitment will allow an uninterrupted broadcast of these championships, providing fans with hours of continuous live action.

Date/Day Time (Local/EDT) Network Coverage

Aug. 11/Wednesday

3-4 p.m. Peacock Round of 64 Matches

4-6 p.m. Golf Channel Round of 64 Matches

Aug. 12/Thursday

11 a.m.-Noon Peacock Round of 32 Matches

Noon-2 p.m. Golf Channel Round of 32 Matches

Aug. 13/Friday

11 a.m.-Noon Peacock Quarterfinal Matches

Noon-2 p.m. Golf Channel Quarterfinal Matches

Aug. 14/Saturday

3-4 p.m. Golf Channel Semifinal Matches

4-6 p.m. NBC Semifinal Matches

Aug. 15/Sunday

3-4 p.m. Peacock Championship Match

4-6 p.m. NBC Championship Match

CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY

Like the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Amateur championships, the U.S. Amateur has been contested since the USGA’s first championship season in 1895. The trophy was initially presented to the USGA on March 28, 1895, in honor of the association’s first president, Theodore A. Havemeyer.

The original Havemeyer Trophy, an ornate silver trophy produced by J.E. Caldwell and Company in Philadelphia, was presented to C.B. Macdonald at Newport Country Club after his 1895 victory. The prize was then passed to each successive U.S. Amateur champion until Nov. 22, 1925, when it was lost in a massive fire at the home club of Bob Jones, East Lake Country Club in Atlanta, Ga.

Rather than replicate the original, the USGA decided to produce an entirely new trophy with an extended base to accommodate additional engraving. The new Havemeyer Trophy, a tall steeple cup designed in solid gold, was formally presented in January of 1926 by USGA Treasurer Edward S. Moore. It was retired in 1992 and was stolen from the USGA Golf Museum in the spring of 2012, and never recovered. A copy of the trophy, produced in 1992, is passed from champion to champion. In 1996, the USGA replicated the original silver Havemeyer Trophy using two existing photographs. A second replica was produced for display at East Lake.

The original U.S. Amateur Trophy is on display at the USGA Golf Museum in Far Hills, N.J.

THE CHAMPION RECEIVES

Among the benefits enjoyed by the U.S. Amateur champion are:

►A gold medal and custody of the Havemeyer Trophy for the ensuing year

►An exemption from local and final qualifying for the next U.S. Open (2022)

►An exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Amateurs

►An exemption from qualifying for the next Open Championship, conducted by The R&A

►A likely invitation to the next Masters Tournament (2022)

EXEMPT PLAYERS

There are currently 57 players who are fully exempt from qualifying in the U.S. Amateur. The list includes 10 USGA champions – Kiko Francisco Coehle (2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball), Nicholas Dunlap (2021 U.S. Junior Amateur), Noah Goodwin (2017 U.S. Junior Amateur), Stewart Hagestad (2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Cole Hammer (2018 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball), Leopoldo Herrera III (2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball), Lukas Michel (2019 U.S. Mid-Amateur), Bob Royak (2019 U.S. Senior Amateur), Preston Summerhays (2019 U.S. Junior Amateur) and Michael Thorbjornsen (2018 U.S. Junior Amateur).

FUTURE U.S. AMATEUR SITES

Aug. 15-21, 2022 – Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, N.J.

Aug. 14-20, 2023 – Cherry Hills Country Club, Cherry Hills Village, Colo.

Aug. 12-18, 2024 – Hazeltine National Golf Club, Chaska, Minn.

Aug. 11-17, 2025 – The Olympic Club (Lake and Ocean Courses), San Francisco, Calif.

Aug. 10-16, 2026 – Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pa.

Aug. 9-15, 2027 – Oak Hill Country Club, Pittsford, N.Y.

Aug. 11-17, 2031 – The Honors Course, Ooltewah, Tenn.

HONORARY CHAIRMEN

Pittsburgh sports legends Mario Lemieux and Jerome Bettis are the honorary chairmen of the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship. Lemieux and Bettis are both Hall of Famers in their respective sports. Lemieux was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame immediately upon his first retirement in 1997, and Bettis was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Bettis played for 13 years in the NFL, including his final 10 seasons with Pittsburgh. He helped the Steelers win Super Bowl XL – a 21-10 victory over Seattle in 2006 – and also advance to four AFC championship games, qualify for the AFC playoffs six times and capture five AFC Central crowns. Bettis was chosen to the franchise’s all-time team as part of the 75th season celebration in 2007.

Lemieux spent his entire career with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, from 1984-2006. He led the team to the 1991 and 1992 Stanley Cups when he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. Lemieux also became an owner and was part of three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017) in that role. He is the only man to have his name on the Cup as a player and owner. Lemieux, who won the NHL’s Hart Trophy as MVP three times, is one of the sport’s all-time leading scorers (690 goals, 1,033 assists).

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