Berkmeyer, Long advance
to 108th U.S. Amateur
McHenry, Rochester also advance to Pinehurst
Wentzville’s Adam Long, preparing to start his junior season at Duke, had good reason to play well at the 108th U.S. Amateur Qualifying this week at Meadowbrook Country Club.
The national championship, the oldest tournament in the U.S., is slated for Aug. 18-24 at Pinehurst, N.C. “I can tell you it wouldn’t be much fun getting back to my room at school knowing the Amateur was going on just down the road,” Long said.
That won’t be a problem, now, as Long fired rounds of 69-71-140 at Meadowbrook to earn one of four available spots into the national championship.
Ballwin’s Skip Berkmeyer (shown putting at No. 18, left) posted a final-round 70 Tuesday to go with his first-round 68 to earn medalist honors. Jefferson City’s Connor McHenry (72-69-141) and Memphis’ Ian Rochester (73-68-141) also earned spots in the 300-plus player golf marathon that is the U.S. Amateur.
Meadowbrook’s Justin Bardgett (72-70-142) won the first alternate in a playoff with Cape Girardeau’s Todd Obergoenner (70-72-142).
Long has some recent history on both Pinehurst’s famed No. 2 course and the No. 4 course, where the nationals will be played.
“I played in the North and South Amateur there about a month ago on the same two courses,” said Long, who got into match play in a playoff, then advanced to the semifinals. “Our team went down there before NCAA Regionals too. So, I’ve probably played Pinehurst eight or nine times in the last six months.”
Long, playing alongside Berkmeyer in the day’s final group, kept pace with the medalist. After completing 35 holes of the qualifying at 3-under par, he sensed he was in good position to earn one of the spots. “My dad (Gordon Long) told me at the 18th tee that a par would probably be good enough. I said, ‘How about a birdie?’ Dad said, 'That would be even better.' ”
Long delivered, when his 127-yard wedge shot finished 16 inches from the hole for a tap-in birdie.
While Long may have hit the day’s best final shot, Rochester delivered the day’s best start. The recent University of Memphis graduate started eagle, birdie en route to a 33-35-68. Rochester’s wedge shot from 129 yards one-hopped into the hole.
The MAGA wishes to thank the members and staff of Meadowbrook Country Club for their hospitality and gracious support of the qualifying for 108th playing of the U.S. Amateur.The MAGA's Curt Rohe (right) presents a USGA certificate to Meadowbrook head professional Craig Liddle.