2023 Men’s US Amateur - Preview
Gordon Sargent at Cherry Hills Country Club. Cherry Hills Village, CO. 2023
Denver, CO - The gang’s all here at Cherry Hills and Colorado Golf Club, in Denver, Colorado for the 2023 US Am.
Who’s going to win? Let’s find out:
Gordon Sargent
Let’s get this guy out of the way, first. #1 Am in the world has 2 2023 Majors under his belt. MC at Augusta in April, and played the weekend and won low-am at LACC.
Probably about even odds vs. the field to win, this week. What can you say, the dude is good. He’s played above his competition everywhere, and now he’s made 2/4 cuts on the PGA Tour.
Do we think he can win? Yes. Would we take him at even money, probably a little too short for us, but we’d bite at 2:1.
Dylan Menante
#5 Am in the world. Won a natty at Pepperdine and transferred to UNC cuz the coach wouldn’t let the kid practice instead of play, all the time. ffs. Talk about your all time big mistakes, coach!
This kid is nails.
Almost won another natty this year, but lost in the semis. Kicked the shit out of Christo Lamprecht, though, who you may remember from The Open Championship, 6&5. And it was worse than that.
Look for a deep run out of Mr. Menante.
David Ford
Dylan’s teammate now, at UNC, with his twin brother Maxwell who just transferred in from UGA. Look for both to make some noise and we can’t tell them apart, so we’d put our money on both.
Nick Dunlap
Bama All America. Qualified for the US Open at LACC, but missed the cut. One of top 3-5 players here, hands down.
Luke Clanton
FSU freshman won his NCAA Regional. #14 WAGR. Lookout for him and his fellow Seminoles, Frederik Kjettrup (#17) and Cole Anderson, as well.
Mac McClear
Won the Illinois State Am this year. 81st in WAGR. Chicago kid plays for the Hawkeyes. Kinda a goofball, but nasty on the course. 2x B1G conference champ.
Team Vandy:
Cole Sherwood (#12 WAGR)
Matthew Riedel (#41 WAGR)
William Moll (#24 WAGR)
There’s good reason this squad was the #1 team in the country. Three good reasons not named Gordon Sargent, are listed above.
1:03PM Power Grouping(s):
At Cherry Hills we’ve got
David Ford
All America at UNC. #4 WAGR. The Lefty is a legit contender to win this.
John Gough
First Team All Conference at Charlotte. #11 WAGR. 5’6”.
Barclay Brown
All America at Stanford. #25 WAGR. Made cut at The Open Championship and played (mc) at LACC this year, as well.
And, at Colorado Golf Club there’s
Austin Greaser
AA at UNC. #8 WAGR.
Preston Summerhays
Qualified for US Open (MC) at LACC. #19 WAGR.
William Moll
Another Texan playing for the ‘Dores. #24 WAGR.
And, if you’re there to watch Gordo, not a bad grouping for him, either:
Maxwell Moldovan
Buckeye, qualified for the US Open at LACC and made the weekend. #23 WAGR. Expect big things out of this kid.
Karl Vilips
Another Stanford standout. #36 WAGR. Qualified for LACC, but missed the cut. Aussie gets award for best looking significant other. Blonde bombshell following KV may be another reason to keep your eyes on this group.
Stewart Hagestad
Man, what a life this dude leads. Finds time to play amateur golf when not at his cushy finance job. Can’t stand watching the broomstick on the dance floor, but the dude’s game speaks for itself. #13 WAGR.
Notables to Qualify:
Dylan McDermott
From Granite Bay, CA but plays down the road for the Buffaloes in Boulder. Should at least have the altitude factor dialed in better than any player here, if that matters. #139 WAGR.
Omar Morales
UCLA All America, played (MC) at LACC. #264 WAGR.
Ryggs Johnston
ASU product by way of northern Montana. #105 WAGR.
Will Hartman
This kid just got done playing in the US Junior Am. Beat the toughest kid there in 6’8” Texas standout freshman, Tommy Morrison, but was out of gas at the end. Kid can play. #740 WAGR.
Can someone not mentioned above win this week? Certainly. But, it will be tough.
Go get ‘em, boys.