Dickson's Jackson Herrington fell short in his effort to advance to match play in the Western Amateur
photo by Jenny Butler
The Western Amateur is considered one of the toughest tests in amateur golf, both from the perspective of endurance as well as stiff competition. Two days of stroke play at Skokie Country Club in Glencoe, Ill. were followed by a 36-hole test on Thursday where the top 16 advance into two days of match play. With the champion forced to play eight rounds of golf over a five-day span, it can become a battle of attrition.
Dickson natives Jackson Herrington and Cameron Tankersley had hopes of surviving the 36-hole marathon, but neither was able to advance.
Herrington shot 74-73 on Thursday, finishing his four rounds at 5-over 285 after beginning the day at 2-under. The hefty lefty was cruising along at 1-under through 11 holes in the morning before encountering some late trouble. He played his final seven holes in 5-over that included a double at 18.
The University of Tennessee sophomore once again birdied No. 3 in the afternoon to gain some momentum. However, another run of bogeys where he was five-over in a six-hole stretch was too much to overcome as he finished tied for 41st.
Tankersley was in the group behind Herrington in both rounds, and was hoping to continue the success that led to a score of 65 on Wednesday. The Ole Miss senior was at even par for the day through 11 holes in the early round before posting a 3-over 73.
Two early birdies in his afternoon trek gave him hope to finish inside the coveted Top 16. But four bogeys – including late misfires at 15 and 16 – were too much to counter a pair of birdies in his closing nine as he posted an even par 70. His 72-hole total of 1-over 281 tied for 21st, two shots from the cut line of 1-under.
After shooting a course record 62 in his opening round on Tuesday, future Tennessee Vol Tyler Watts followed that with rounds of 72-72-73 to finish among seven golfers deadlocked at 1-under 279. The Huntsville, Ala. high school senior finished his morning round with a double-bogey, then carded another double in the afternoon at No. 16 to place his prospects in jeopardy before being eliminated in a 7-for-6 playoff to determine who would advance to match play.
Florida’s Zack Swanwick and Oklahoma State’s Ethan Fang were co-medalists at 5-under 275.
Rogers, Sciortino Narrowly Miss Advancing at Junior PGA
Carlee Rogers proved to be the model of consistency at the Junior PGA Championship, navigating her way around the challenging courses at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in West Lafayette, Ind. in even par for three straight rounds.
Unfortunately, her combined score of 214 missed by one shot of falling inside the top 30 and ties that advance to Friday’s final round.
The Hixson resident started Thursday’s round on the back side with bogeys at 11 and 13 sandwiching a birdie at 12. Two more birdies at 17 and 1 nudged Rogers to 1-under for the tournament, but one more bogey at the par-3 7th hole proved to be costly in missing the cut.
Rogers, who has committed to the University of Miami following her senior year at Baylor School, will now head to Oregon for next week’s U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bandon Dunes after finishing in a tie for 35th.
In the Boys Division, Andrew Sciortinio entered Thursday’s play tied for 18th, and a birdie at No. 5 left the Brentwood Academy standout poised to advance to Friday’s final round at 6-under. However, bogeys at 15, 16 and 18 resulted in a round of 3-over 74, leaving the Lipscomb University commit one stroke away from finishing among the top 30. His 54-hole total of 2-under 212 resulted in a tie for 34th.
Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, is tied for second at 12-under 202 after completing consecutive rounds of 66. He is seven shots behind leader Lunden Esterline of Kansas, who has compiled rounds of 67-62-66 to stand at 19-under 195.
Paul Payne can be emailed at paulpayne6249@gmail.com