Conditions weren’t perfect for much of the opening round at the Western Amateur, but the 156-man field didn’t appear to have too many problems Tuesday as overcast skies and occasional drizzle turned into sunny skies with a strong breeze later in the afternoon at The Alotian Club in Roland.
It was navigating the hilly, 7,480-yard Alotian course,which features tough cuts of rough and fast bent grass greens, that was tricky for some golfers.
Seth Reeves of Suwanne Ga., Sam Smith of Turlock, Calif, and Cameron Wilson of Rowayton, Conn., didn’t seem to have too much trouble and are tied for the lead at 7-under 65 heading into today’s second round of stroke play. A total of 73 golfers shot par or better Tuesday.
Those who survive today’s cut to the low 44 plus ties will have two more days of stroke play to try to figure it all out before the field is cut to the low 16 for Saturday’s opening round of match play.
“The course is great but pretty long and hilly” said Oliver Goss of Perth, Australia, who shot 1-over 73. “There are some incredible views, picturesque, but the pins set today were kind of tough. If you missed on the wrong side of the pin it was almost a guaranteed bogey.”
Patrick Lee, the 1995 Western Amateur champion from Centerton, said he wasn’t sure if the course’s toughness or the fact he is much older than the majority of the field led to his 8-over 80, which left him 153rd in the remaining 155-man field.
“It was fair but tough out there,” said Lee, 41, who teed off at 7 a.m. on No. 1). “The pin placements were pretty tough, tougher than you would think for the first round. It was tough but fair out there.
“It was tough for somebody who hasn’t played awhile in a competitive environment.”
Michael Weaver of Fresno, Calif., shot a 4-under 68 that left him in a tie for eighth. He said his score was good, but he knows trouble lurks at every turn.
“The pins were kind of tough, and fortunately I kept putting myself in good spots,” Weaver said. “I really didn’t short-side myself and miss greens. Making all my up-and-downs took a lot of pressure off me, but it’s definitely a good course. You really have to play very well to get to 5- or 6-under.
Reeves said didn’t see any issues with the course, probably because he stayed out of trouble most of the day. His round included a single bogey on No. 7
“It’s such a unique, course,” he said. “It’s pretty fun to play. I love it.”
Wes McNulty, 44, of White Hall said he couldn’t blame the course for his 3-over 75, which left him in a tie for 104th place.
“I made a double bogey on seven and hit a bad shot on 18, but it was all my own doing,” he said. “The greens were fine. They weren’t fast or slow. They were perfect, actually.
“I missed from 15 feet or less the last five holes. Fortunately, I made it through the last two holes. I was tired. I was really beat, but the scoring is out there for these guys, particularly the younger ones that are in better shape than me.”
Lane Hulse of Fordyce admitted that it is a demanding course but said everyone in the field has the capability of putting together a good round.
“It is a hard walk up and down the hills all day long,” he said. “It is a very physically demanding golf course. Thank goodness for caddies.”
Austin Cook of Jonesboro, who completed his eligibility at the University of Arkansas in the spring, said making long putts helped save his 3-under 69 round.
“I struggled off the tee, trying to put myself in the fairway,” he said. “I was in the bunker and rough a lot. It was demanding at times because of how it is set up, but it’s something I have to take into account the rest of the week.
“Fortunately I made some bombs today for par.”
At a glance WHERE The Alotian Club, Roland
WHEN Today-Sunday. First tee times 7 a.m. on Nos. 1 and 10. Last tee times 2:15 p.m. on Nos. 1 and 10.
FIELD 155 players LEADERS Seth Reeves, Sam Smith and Cameron Wilson are tied for the lead at 7-under-par 65.
TODAY’S FORMAT Stroke play.
LOOKING AHEAD The field will be cut to the top 44 and ties following today’s round. Golfers will continue stroke play Thursday and Friday, with the field cut to 16 after Friday’s rounds. Match play begins Saturday with quarterfinal rounds.
The semifinal and final match play rounds will be Sunday.
Leaderboard
111TH WESTERN AMATEUR The Alotian Club, Roland 7,480 yards, Par 72
Seth Reeves .......................... 34-31-65 Sam Smith ............................ 33-32-65 Cameron Wilson ................... 33-32-65 Jordan Niebrugge ................. 33-33-66 Tyler Dunlap .......................... 34-32-66 Andrew Yun ........................... 33-34-67 Patrick Rodgers .................... 32-35-67 ARKANSANS Lane Hulse ............................ 34-35-69 Sebastian Cappelen ............... 35-34-69 Austin Cook ........................... 34-35-69 Nicolas Echavarria................. 34-36-70 Joe Doramus ......................... 35-38-73 Wes McNulty ......................... 39-36-75 Joseph Nichols ..................... 37-39-76 Stan Payne ............................ 39-40-79 Patrick Lee ............................ 39-41-80
By the numbers
1◊Players who withdrew Tuesday. Tucker Wadkins withdrew because of a wrist injury sustained on his first hole.
7◊Patrick Lee’s score on the par-4 seventh hole
5◊Score of Hunter Kraus of Germantown, Tenn., after playing five holes Tuesday.
11◊Countries represented in the tournament.
Sports, Pages 19 on 07/31/2013