PINEHURST, N.C. — Four Tigers wrapped up play at the this year’s U.S. Amateur Championship at historic Pinehurst Resort on Tuesday afternoon, marking LSU’s largest contingent to tee it up in the 108-year history of the nation’s most prestigious amateur tournament.
Participants in the 312-man field finished 36 holes of stroke play on Monday and Tuesday as the top 64 earned the right to play for the Havemeyer Trophy in single-elimination match play.
Rising junior Bryant Lach was LSU’s top performer as he was only one stroke off the cut line in a tie for 89th at 6-over 146 in his first career appearance at the U.S. Amateur. After opening with a 2-over par 72 at famous Pinehurst No. 2 on Monday, Lach followed with a 4-over 74 at Pinehurst No. 4 on Tuesday for his two-round total of 146.
Incoming freshman Josh Jones wasn’t far behind his teammate as he carded a 36-hole score of 9-over 149, including a 3-over 73 at the No. 4 course Monday and a 6-over 76 at No. 2 on Tuesday.
Also making his first career U.S. Amateur appearance was senior Jarrod Barsamian, who finished the stroke play portion of the competition at 12-over 152. Barsamian opened the championship on Monday with a 7-over 77 at No. 2 before wrapping up with a 5-over 75 at No. 4 on Tuesday.
Sophomore Clayton Rotz was the fourth Tiger to compete this week and posted rounds of 12-over 82 at No. 2 on Monday and 4-over 74 at No. 4 on Tuesday to finish with a two-round score of 16-over par 156. It was Rotz’s third career appearance in the most prestigious amateur championship sponsored by the United States Golf Association as he also competed in 2005 and 2007.
The quartet will now return to Baton Rouge and begin preparations for the start of the fall season with the rest of the Tigers as they open play Sept. 12-14 by heading north to Wayzata, Minn., to tee it up against many of the top teams from the Midwest in the Gopher Invitational at Spring Hill Golf Club.