GRANITE BAY, Calif. — University of Colorado sophomore Dylan McDermott has advanced to the U.S. Amateur for the second year in row, as he earned medalist honors in the final qualifying stage for the event here Monday with a 71-64—135 scorecard.
McDermott, who entered the week as the 163rd ranked amateur in the world, was tied for 11th after opening with an even-par 71 in the morning on the 6,889-yard Granite Bay Golf Club; though McDermott hails from Granite Bay, this wasn’t his home course as he plays out of Winchester Country Club. He started with a par on No. 1, but scored a double bogey on No. 2; he got one stroke back by birdying N. 4 and then parred out on the front side; on the back nine, he scored three birdies against two bogeys, his last bird coming on No. 17 to get back to even for the first 18. He was five off the lead at that point.
He caught fire the second time around the GBGC track, firing a sizzling 7-under 64 starting on No. 10 and making birdies on Nos. 13 and 15 to rise into a tie for third. McDermott then opened up front side with birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 4 to assume the lead and then split from the pack with two more birds on Nos. 6 and 7. He led all players with 11 birdies while recording 22 pars with just three holes worse than par; he also played the par-4 holes the best at 4-under. His 7-under 135 scorecard in the end earned him first place and a four-stroke win over three players at 3-under 139. Only nine players finished under par and none at even in the 74-man field.
The 7-under, bogey free round matched his best effort in competition related to par almost three years to the day, as he had 7-under 65 in the July 2020 AJGA Dana Incorporated Open in Sylvania, Ohio. The 64 is his low gross score, as he has two 65’s as a collegian (both 5-under efforts) along with the Sylvania effort.
The top two finishers here Monday advanced, with two others in alternate positions. On qualifying a second consecutive year, he felt he really earned it this year.
“It’s really awesome,” McDermott said. “I have to admit that last year, I didn’t quite feel like I fully deserved it, the guy I was playing didn’t finish strong and I wasn’t playing my best. Today, things really came together after that early double. I didn’t feel any…
McDermott, who entered the week as the 163rd ranked amateur in the world, was tied for 11th after opening with an even-par 71 in the morning on the 6,889-yard Granite Bay Golf Club; though McDermott hails from Granite Bay, this wasn’t his home course as he plays out of Winchester Country Club. He started with a par on No. 1, but scored a double bogey on No. 2; he got one stroke back by birdying N. 4 and then parred out on the front side; on the back nine, he scored three birdies against two bogeys, his last bird coming on No. 17 to get back to even for the first 18. He was five off the lead at that point.
He caught fire the second time around the GBGC track, firing a sizzling 7-under 64 starting on No. 10 and making birdies on Nos. 13 and 15 to rise into a tie for third. McDermott then opened up front side with birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 4 to assume the lead and then split from the pack with two more birds on Nos. 6 and 7. He led all players with 11 birdies while recording 22 pars with just three holes worse than par; he also played the par-4 holes the best at 4-under. His 7-under 135 scorecard in the end earned him first place and a four-stroke win over three players at 3-under 139. Only nine players finished under par and none at even in the 74-man field.
The 7-under, bogey free round matched his best effort in competition related to par almost three years to the day, as he had 7-under 65 in the July 2020 AJGA Dana Incorporated Open in Sylvania, Ohio. The 64 is his low gross score, as he has two 65’s as a collegian (both 5-under efforts) along with the Sylvania effort.
The top two finishers here Monday advanced, with two others in alternate positions. On qualifying a second consecutive year, he felt he really earned it this year.
“It’s really awesome,” McDermott said. “I have to admit that last year, I didn’t quite feel like I fully deserved it, the guy I was playing didn’t finish strong and I wasn’t playing my best. Today, things really came together after that early double. I didn’t feel any…
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