The combination of a relatively short golf course and greens softened by overnight rain that turned them into dart boards was enough to produce record scoring — Michael Muehr led with 67-64–131 — as a 36-hole qualifier for the U.S. Amateur championship was held at Argyle Country Club, July 24. The Silver Spring course was played at 6,441 yards to a par of 35-35–70.
Medalist Muehr, from Potomac Falls, Va., was followed by four players at 132, who played off for the two remaining places in the championship and two alternates. Overall, there were 32 rounds in the 60’s recorded by 70 players, 14 in the morning and 18 in the afternoon where play was interrupted by a one-hour weather delay.
Ryan McCarthy, an Argyle member, was a factor in both situations. He had a 69 in the morning and was 6 under par for his afternoon round with a 12-foot birdie putt left for 63 on his final hole when the horn sounded. When play resumed, he rolled in the putt to gain a place in the playoff.
Joining him were Peter Knade, Easton, 68-64; Morgan Egloff, from Chevy Chase, 68-64, and Luke Schaap, from Potomac, 69-63. With the playoff on Nos. 1 and 18, all made par at the first hole, and McCarthy and Egloff converted two-putt pars at 18 to advance. Schaap birdied the first hole (third of the playoff) to become first alternate and Knade’s par left him as second alternate after both had dropped back with bogeys at 18.
Muehr, who last went to the site in 2013, started on No. 10 in the morning, had three birdies through 16, then had 11 successive pars for his 67. In the afternoon, he had three birdies on each nine, but it was an eight-foot putt for par at 18 that turned out to be critical. “I don’t make that and I’m out there with them,” he said referring to the playoff. “Overall, the key was I putted well and had no bogeys,” he added.
His 131 equals is what is believed to be a tournament record, set by Denny McCarthy (68-63) at Lakewood CC in 2013.
McCarthy, who has been to 12 USGA events as a caddy for younger brother Denny, but never an individual one for himself, admitted he could have shot his way out of contention in the morning but solid putting made up for wayward tees shots. As it was, he came out in the afternoon, made birdie from 25 feet at No. 10 to start and went on to make four birds on each side (plus a bogey) . “I didn’t drive it great, but my putting was outstanding both rounds.”
Knade, a University of Maryland sophomore who plays from Talbot CC, said he hit a lot greens and “making a few more putts” accounted for his better afternoon score, while Egloff, from the Chevy Chase Club, chipped in twice for birdies. Schaap, an Argyle member and University of Virginia sophomore, started at 10 in the afternoon and the only close call in the bogey-free tour was at 18, where he got up-and-down for par from 89 yards. “And my putting was outstanding.”
Notes — Matthew Malits, from Silver Spring and Argyle CC, had the low morning round, 65, and finished with 68 for 133. The 17-year-old DeMatha senior’s day included an eagle-3 at the 517-yard third hole, where he hit the green in two, and was one of several with a career round during the day. . .McCarthy’s 63 was a career tournament round, as was Schaap’s. . .Tyler Koch, from Issue and Swan Point Y&CC, also eagled the third in his morning round (67) with driver, 4-iron to 10 feet. . .The championship will be held next month at Riviera CC in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Reported by John Stewart
