2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifier Results

   

The Maryland State Golf Association, in association with the United States Golf Association, conducted qualifying for the 2021 U.S. Men’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Worthington Manor on Tuesday, September 22. A field of 46 teams had aspirations to qualify for a USGA championship, but only two teams could achieve their goals.

Paired in the same group starting at 8:52 am, the teams of Brandon Cigna and Ben Warnquist, and Jon Moles and Keegan Boone posted 63 (-9) early in the day for the rest of the field to chase. It turned out their early heroics were enough to share the medal and earn spots in the field next spring. The championship is scheduled for May 22-26, 2021 at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash. The Home Course in Dupont, Wash will serve as the stroke play co-host for the event.

Jack Bonifant and Taso Scilaris, both members of Argyle CC, made eight birdies on their way to posting a bogey-free 64 and earning 1st alternate. Another pairing from Argyle CC and two of Maryland top-ranked juniors, Bryan Kim and Jake Griffin, were close to qualifying had it not been for two bogeys in the middle of their round. They finished at 65 (-7) and tied Scott Shingler of Haymarket, VA and teammate Justin Young of Salem, VA. The playoff for 2nd alternate was decided when Young converted a 30-footer for birdie on the second playoff hole.

Cigna and Warnquist were bogey-free en route to 33-30—63 on Worthington Manor’s 7011-yard course. The Manor Country Club duo got off to a strong start when Cigna birdied the first hole. After a streak of pars on difficult holes early in the round, Warnquist made three at the short par-4 seventh, and Cigna added a birdie on the par-5 ninth to turn at 3-under. Cigna continued with the hot hand, carding his third birdie of the day on the par-4 tenth, and Warnquist took control the rest of the way, tallying three birdies and an eagle on the team’s final eight holes, including a pivotal birdie on the par-5 eighteenth.

Moles was familiar with the course having registered as a Worthington Manor member. He and Boone, Bethesda CC, each took turns carrying the team on the front nine. Moles handled the team’s birdies on holes 4, 5, and 9, while Boone’s score counted on the first three holes as well as the seventh (all pars). Moles’ final birdie on the front nine sparked an impressive streak. Boone went on to birdie four in a row (holes 10-13), then Moles added a birdie, three on hole 14 for six consecutive birdies. They finished by matching their fellow competitors with birdies on holes 16 (Moles) and 18 (Boone), for a score of 34-29—63.

It will be Moles’ and Boone’s first U.S. Four-Ball Championship as a team and as individuals. Boone has enjoyed a successful summer that included a victory in July at Hillendale CC in the 57th MSGA Four-Ball Championship with partner Michael Mulieri. He also made the cut at the Maryland Open (72-75-74—221) and finished T29.

Meanwhile, Cigna and Warnquist have a proven track record in this event. They qualified for the 2016 US Four-Ball hosted by Winged Foot Golf Club and earned a spot in the match play draw, eventually finishing as runners-up. 2019 was the final year of a three-year exemption from qualifying earned by their runner-up finish, and the pair missed qualifying in fall of 2019 for the 2020 championship. Since the 2020 edition was eventually cancelled due to COVID-19, next year will be the team’s fifth consecutive US Four-Ball Championship. Previous sites where they qualified for match play included Pinehurst (2018) and Bandon Dunes (2019). They will attempt to qualify for match play for the fourth time in 2021.

Cool temperatures in the morning led to a 30-minute frost delay that pushed the first group’s starting time from 8:00 am to 8:30 am. The four-ball format did not aid pace of play. The field was comprised of players from Washington D.C. and eight states including Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Oregon. Worthington Manor, an Ault-Clark design located in Frederick, has a reputation for identifying great players. The course has hosted more fifteen USGA qualifiers since opening in 1998 and most recently hosted the 98th Maryland Open Championship in 2019.

Reported by MSGA Staff