On July 24-25, 2023, The Maryland State Golf Association hosted the 123rd U.S. Amateur Qualifying at Worthington Manor Golf Club in Urbana, MD. The qualifier consisted of two 18-hole rounds of stroke play and ended with five qualifiers and two alternates. The course was played at 7,047 yards and a par 72.
Kevin Johnson, Brett Patterson, and Khavish Varadan earned co-medalist honors by shooting 7-under-par. Johnson from Bethesda, MD, went 70-67 with 13 birdies. Johnson played at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at Kiawah Island Club earlier this year. Patterson, of Oxford, Mississippi, played near perfect with eight birdies and only one bogey over the two days. Patterson was a co-leader after round one after shooting 67. Varadan, of Malaysia, also made 13 birdies over the two rounds. Varadan and Patterson also qualified for the U.S. Amateur last year by traveling to Worthington Manor to earn a spot.
With three spots locked up, Benton Weinberg, Evan Beck, and Alejandro Rodriguez Andreu went into a playoff for the final two spots. After the first playoff hole, No. 10, all three players headed to No. 14 for the second playoff hole. All three players hit their second shots on the green, but Weinberg left his the closest, with about a foot for birdie. He was able to sink the putt and earn the fourth qualifying spot. Beck and Andreu made pars and headed to the third playoff hole, No. 15. Both players made par on the third, fourth, and fifth playoff holes. They headed to the sixth playoff hole, No. 15 again. The par-3 played 191 yards. Andreu, with honors, pulled his shot left of the green. Beck then hit his tee shot to about 12 feet. Andreu’s first chip was left short and off the green. His third shot rolled past the hole. Beck left his birdie putt about 8 inches short and was able to clean up for par. Beck, of Virginia Beach, VA, earned the final qualifying spot, and Andreu earned the first alternate spot. Benjamin Choe shot 4-under-par over the two rounds to earn the second alternate.
The 123rd U.S Amateur will be held at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, August 14-20, 2023.
