Owatonna's Jones One of Three Minnesotans to Qualify For U.S. Amateur

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  MORTON, Minn. – Bouncing back from a 75 during the opening round of the 2015 U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying at Dacotah Ridge Golf Club, Peter Jones fired a 73 during the second round to earn medalist honors at 4-over par 148, as well as a spot in this year’s championship.

A two-hole playoff determined the final two spots Monday as Hudson Carpenter and Freddy Thomas finished 36 holes of regulation at 6-over par 150, both advancing to the national tournament, which will be played August 17-23 at Olympia Fields Country Club in Olympia Fields, Ill.

“I’m really excited—I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. Playing at college next year I think it’ll be similar to the competition I’ll face so it’ll be nice to see the next level,” Jones, who will begin his freshman season at the University of Minnesota this fall, said following his second round Monday.

Jones, Owatonna, Minn., made the turn at 1-over during the first round with a birdie and two bogeys before carding two more bogeys on the back nine to finish at 3-over par 75.  

Beginning the second round on the tenth tee, Jones quickly dipped into red numbers with a birdie at the par-3 11th hole. He would card six consecutive pars before making bogey at the par-5 18th hole to head to the final nine holes at 3-over par.

With a double-bogey at the par-4 second hole, Jones slipped to 5-over, but would get back on track late in the round Monday with a birdie at the sixth after putting his approach to inside two feet before rolling in an eight-foot birdie on the seventh hole.

After a bogey at the eighth, Jones would finish his day at 4-over par 148 to sit atop the leaderboard, with a ticket to the U.S. Amateur Championship.

“I started off playing solid golf. I made a few bogeys, but I was hitting the ball really consistent and really found my swing on the back nine of the first 18,” Jones said Monday. “I really started striking the driver and kept it in play and never made any big numbers, that was the key.”

Playing in one of the earlier groups Monday, Jones said he didn’t have a chance to see any other scores before beginning his afternoon round—helping him relax and focus on his round.

“I didn’t see any of the leaders [after the first round], I was up there for 20 minutes and went right back out and went par-birdie, made a few more pars and shot even on the front,” he said.

“Today I played well tee-to-green, I know the greens are tough but I played consistently and gave myself opportunities for birdies.”

Jones’ first USGA experience came last year when he carded 74-73—147 at the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, advancing to match play before losing during the Round of 64.

Carpenter, Stillwater, Minn., played his front nine of the opening round Monday at 1-over par, but slipped on the back with a bogey and a double-bogey to finish the first round at 4-over par 76.

Making the turn at even par during the afternoon session Monday, Carpenter would again run into troubles with a bogey at the 10th before carding double-bogey at No. 13 to fall to 7-over for the day.

Carpenter would make an important birdie at the par-4 17th hole that would put him in the clubhouse at 6-over par 150 and into a four-way playoff to determine the final two spots.

On the second playoff hole, Carpenter put his approach to 15 feet, with an easy two-putt for par to qualify for his third U.S. Amateur Championship in four years.

“It was really windy this morning and the greens weren’t too firm at that point,” Carpenter said of his first round Monday. “I had a poor finish but I just kind of hung in there. I knew 76 had a chance and my goal was to get it back to even on the day.”

“I was 2-under through six holes the second round and, unfortunately, made a couple poor swings. The wind started to die down towards the end of the day and I tried to focus,” he said. “I was kind of discouraged coming off the course—I didn’t think 150 would have a chance to get in but I was told I was tied for second so I went out and got ready for the playoff.”

Thomas, Lakeville, Minn., will make his USGA debut when he travels to Illinois next month after carding back-to-back rounds of 75 before prevailing in a playoff to grab the final qualifying spot Monday.

Thomas carded 15 pars with three bogeys during the opening round Monday before carding a birdie and two bogeys during the front nine of the second round.

A birdie at the 14th put Thomas back at 3-over par for the day but he would struggle late in the round Monday with a double-bogey at the 15th before making bogey at the 17th. A par on the final hole put Thomas at 6-over par 150 and into a playoff.

On the second playoff hole Thomas left his approach short of the green before leaving his third shot six feet short of the cup. He would two-putt for bogey, but still managed to qualify after Sam Foust missed a short bogey putt.

“I didn’t start off well—coming in I’ve been struggling with my swing and been making a bit of a swing change,” Thomas said Monday. “I started on [No. 10] by pushing it about 40 yards into the rough—way off but made a good four.”

“I felt like my speed on my putts, especially in the first round, was very, very good. I didn’t have a three-putt until the 17th hole in the second round. I felt like today, with the way the course was setup, that was important. The greens were firm, very quick and the wind was blowing hard. It was pretty difficult, no matter how you were striking the ball, to get the ball near the hole.”

A familiarity with the course is something Thomas certainly used to his advantage Monday as he won the Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship last year. He fired a blistering 6-under par 66 during the opening round, cruising to a seven-stroke victory after a final-round 78.

Thomas' first USGA event will be played on his home turf, of sorts, as he finished his freshman season at DePaul University this spring, just 36 miles away from Olympia Fields Country Club.

“I’m excited because it’s back in Chicago and I think a few of my teammates are still there and my girlfriend lives in Chicago. I’m really excited to go back and I look forward to seeing some really good players.”

Foust, Edina, Minn., and Connor Peck, Ankeny, Iowa, finished as first and second alternates, respectively.