U.S. Amateur: Bandon Dunes Coming To You In Prime Time

Bandon Dunes gets its first nationally televised event with the 2020 U.S. Amateur.

Wilson Furr is your medalist after posting a -11 total over Bandon Trails and Bandon Dunes. Furr posted a 62 at Bandon Trails. And 18-for-3 playoff Wednesday morning will determine the final spots in the 64-player match play and Furr’s first round opponent.

Defending champion Andy Ogletree failed to advance to match-play by just a stroke while 2019’s runner-up, John Augenstein posted a -5 36-hole total and is in match play.

Cohen Trulio, one of last year’s semi-finalists who drove to Oregon from his Mississippi with his dad, tested positive for COVID-19 and was forced to withdraw before stroke play started, reports GolfChannel.com’s Brentley Romine.

Golf Channel has all the coverage along with NBC’s new Peacock app, featuring a free option and hopefully fewer crashes per hour than NBC Sports Gold. In a clunky play to push downloads, you’ll have to watch for an hour on Peacock and then go to Golf Channel Wednesday to Friday before everything moves to Golf Channel through the conclusion. In the recent past, the U.S. Amateur final would get NBC and Fox network airings, but not this year.

Championship air times:

Wednesday     6-7 p.m. (Live, Round of 64)              Peacock

                         7-9 p.m. (Live, Round of 64)              GOLF Channel

Thursday          6-7 p.m. (Live, Round of 16)              Peacock

                        7-9 p.m. (Live, Round of 16)              GOLF Channel

Friday              6-7 p.m. (Live, Quarterfinals)            Peacock

                        7-9 p.m. (Live, Quarterfinals)            GOLF Channel

Saturday          7-10 p.m. (Live, Semifinals)              GOLF Channel

Sunday            7-10 p.m. (Live, Championship)        GOLF Channel

The USGA posted this teaser video earlier in the week.

Former USGA Favorites Are Back: Oak Hill, Southern Hills Awarded Amateurs

Southern Hills

The good-things-come-to-those-who-restore movement continues as longtime USGA favorites Oak Hill and Southern Hills were awarded future championships.

Oak Hill’s two courses where Andrew Green has undertaken an East Course restoration set for a big national stage return in the 2023 PGA, with the U.S. Amateur now coming in 2027.

In 2024 Southern Hills, fresh off a Hanse Design restoration, will host the U.S. Women’s Amateur. It hosts the Senior PGA next year and the 2030 PGA.

Of course, all of this contingent upon there still being amateur golfers in the future.

On that note, For Immediate Release:

Classic U.S. Open Courses Awarded USGA Amateurs

Oak Hill will host 2027 U.S. Amateur; Southern Hills to host 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur 

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. (June 18, 2020) – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that a pair of celebrated U.S. Open venues will host future USGA amateur championships. Oak Hill Country Club, in Pittsford, N.Y., will be the site of the 127th U.S. Amateur and Southern Hills Country Club, in Tulsa, Okla., will host the 124th U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Oak Hill, where in 1989 Curtis Strange became the first player in 38 years to successfully defend his U.S. Open title, will host its third U.S. Amateur and seventh USGA championship in 2027. The East and West Courses will be used for stroke play and the East Course will be used for match play. The championship is scheduled for Aug. 9-15.

Southern Hills, the site of three U.S. Opens, will host its second U.S. Women’s Amateur and 10th USGA championship on Aug. 5-11, 2024. Retief Goosen won the first of his two Opens in an 18-hole playoff with Mark Brooks in 2001. Tommy Bolt and Hubert Green won their U.S. Opens there in 1958 and 1977, respectively.

“We are excited to return to both Oak Hill Country Club and Southern Hills Country Club, places with incredible USGA championship pedigrees that have produced storied U.S. Open champions,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA senior managing director, Championships. “The memberships of these clubs and each community’s unbridled enthusiasm will lend themselves well to what we are sure will be two extraordinary championships.”

Oak Hill Country Club has been associated with some of the greatest champions in U.S. Open history. With his victory in 1989, Strange became the first player to win back-to-back U.S. Opens since Ben Hogan. His 72-hole score of 2-under 278 was one stroke better than three players as he rallied from three behind at the start of the final round. Cary Middlecoff won his second U.S. Open in 1956 and Lee Trevino captured the first of his two Open victories in 1968. Two U.S. Amateurs and one U.S. Senior Open have also been conducted at the club. Charlie Coe won the 1949 Amateur, while Hank Kuehne was the U.S. Amateur champion in 1998. Miller Barber won the second of his record three U.S. Senior Open titles in 1984. 

Founded in 1901 on the banks of the Genesee River, Oak Hill moved to its present site in 1926. It was at that time that the Donald Ross-designed East and West Courses debuted. Over the years numerous changes have been made to the East Course, and in 2019, Andrew Green completed a restoration of the course.  

“Oak Hill is thrilled to host the 2027 U.S. Amateur Championship on our East and West Courses,” said Dr. David Fries, club president. “The newly restored East Course features strategic tree management, wider playing corridors, bold bunkering and imaginative putting surfaces. We anticipate it will provide a stern, but thoughtful examination for the best amateurs in the world. We are also delighted to rekindle our relationship with the USGA, which dates to our first U.S. Amateur in 1949. Our membership has always longed to bring back this championship as the more intimate setting and match-play format allow for incredible spectating and excitement.”

Southern Hills Country Club, which was designed by Perry Maxwell, opened for play in 1936 and is situated on land that was donated by wealthy oilman Waite Phillips. There have been several course modifications over the decades, including a recent restoration by Gil Hanse. In addition to three U.S. Opens, the course hosted the 1946 U.S. Women’s Amateur, when the legendary Babe Didrikson Zaharias defeated Clara Sherman, 11 and 9, in the championship final. Zaharias would go on to win three U.S. Women’s Open titles.

Other USGA championships held at Southern Hills were the 1953 U.S. Junior Amateur, won by Rex Baxter Jr.; the 1961 U.S. Senior Amateur, won by Dexter Daniels; the 1965 U.S. Amateur, won by Bob Murphy; the inaugural U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in 1987, won by Cindy Scholefield, and the 2009 U.S. Amateur, won by Byeong-Hun An.

“We are ecstatic for the opportunity to host another U.S. Women’s Amateur, a championship that is not only a staple of amateur golf, but a part of our club’s long history with the USGA,” said Bryan Johnson, Southern Hills club president. “To have the opportunity to continue this legacy, one that began with Babe Didrikson Zaharias winning the championship here, and showcase our course and hospitality to the best amateur players in the world, is something our membership is extremely proud of.”

Southern Hills has also been the site of four PGA Championships, including wins by past U.S. Open champions Tiger Woods in 2007 and Raymond Floyd in 1982. Dave Stockton (1970) and Nick Price (1994) also won PGAs on the course. It was recently announced that Southern Hills will host the PGA for the fifth time in 2030. Oak Hill has been the site of three PGA Championships (1980, won by Jack Nicklaus; 2003, won by Shaun Micheel; and 2013, won by Jason Dufner) and is scheduled to host again in 2023. The club also hosted the 1995 Ryder Cup Matches, won by Europe.

 Architect Green posted this video documenting the Oak Hill work.

As part of the announcement for Oak Hill and the US Amateur in 2027, the Club released a video documenting the work last year.

So proud of the entire team.@ohccturf1 @KevT03 @JRWilliams4Ball #GolfWater#LaBar#LandscapesUnlimitedhttps://t.co/MC4iorWqhF

— Andrew Green (@GreenGCA) June 19, 2020

Here is The Fried Egg’s write-up on the Southern Hills restoration and video:

Andy Johnson and Garrett Morrison discuss Perry Maxwell's brilliant routing of Southern Hills Country Club, focusing on how Maxwell takes repeated advantage ...

Coronavirus: LPGA Cancels Two More Events, This Week's Asia Pacific Women's Amateur Also Off

While the least of the world’s concerns given the agony and suffering caused by the coronavirus, golf is feeling the first repercussions with more tournament cancellations and inevitably, issues for golf equipment manufacturers.

Again, blips on the radar of a disease that has killed 724. Nonetheless, it must be noted: the LPGA has now cancelled all three events of its late Feburary, early March Asia swing.

“It is always a difficult decision to cancel events and the LPGA greatly appreciates the understanding and all the efforts made by our title sponsors (Honda and HSBC) as well as IMG to host incredible events for our players,” the LPGA said in a statement. “The health and safety of our players, fans and everyone working on the event is always our highest priority. While we are disappointed that these tournaments will not take place this season, we look forward to returning to Asia soon.”

The cancelation of those three tournaments means the LPGA will not visit Asia until at least August, when the Olympics will be held in Japan. There will also be a sizable void in the immediate schedule; after this week’s Women’s Australian Open, the LPGA won’t hold a tournament until the Founders Cup, which begins March 19 in Arizona.

The R&A announced Saturday that it was postponing this week’s Women’s Amateur Asia Pacific.

“The decision has been taken amid serious concerns for the safety of players and officials travelling during the current coronavirus outbreak,” R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said in a statement.

Kids Today Files: US Women's Am Champ Chooses ANA Inspiration Over Shot At Augusta National Women's Amateur

The only somewhat understandable caveat in the case of Gabriela Ruffels: the U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion intends to retain her amateur status until the end of her career at USC. Meaning, she might not win the Amateur again but play well enough to get an invitation to Augusta next year.

Still, it’s somewhat confounding to imagine an amateur golfer getting the opportunity to play Augusta National and instead choosing to play one of five women’s professional majors at Mission Hills. Yet that’s what Ruffels has decided after ANWA invitations went out.

From the Sydney Morning Herald:

"Yeah it was a really tough decision, but I think we all decided ANA would be the best," Ruffels said.

"I'm only getting the ANA start because I won the US Women's Amateur and it's a rare opportunity; they don't give out exemptions to anyone at majors."

Ruffels, had she played the ANWA, would have been one of the favorites and a huge focus of pre-tournament interest.

Did I note yet that she would have had the opportunity to play at least one round at Augusta National? Oh I did, sorry for the repetitiveness.

17-Year-Old Wins LAAC To Earn Masters, Open Championship Invites

The emergence of several Latin America Amateur contestants in the professional ranks added a little more prestigious to this year’s edition, but the real boost was the addition this week of an Open Championship exemption. That goes with the much coveted Masters invite, while the USGA still just brings a Sectional Qualifying invite.

The 2020 edition was taken by Abel Gallegos, the first Argentinian to win the event. From an unbylined story on the official website:

Gallegos, who hails from the small town of 25 de Mayo, about two hours outside of Buenos Aires, learned the game on a modest nine-hole course named Las Mulitas, or Little Mules, but will be the 14th Argentine and just the third amateur from Argentina to compete in the Masters Tournament.

Angel Cabrera, the Argentine legend who won the 2009 Masters, sent a message to Gallegos after the final round in which he offered his congratulations and added, “I will be waiting for you at the Masters so you can enjoy that great tournament.”

Gallegos smiled when told of Cabrera’s sentiment, saying, “He is a hero back home. To have him congratulate me, it is everything.”

Gallegos edged a 26-year-old Trackman salesman headed to this week’s PGA Show. Brentley Romine with the story of Jose Vega, Columbia native and former Nebraska golfer.

The highlights, narrated in Spanish…

View this post on Instagram

. Un final increíble a una semana espectacular. ✨ Revive todos los mejores momentos de la ronda final. . An incredible ending to a spectacular week. ✨ Relive all the best moments from the Final Round. #LAAC2020

A post shared by Latin American Amateur Champ (@laac_golf) on Jan 19, 2020 at 5:03pm PST

USGA, R&A Considering Letting Juniors Become Logo-Clads, For Expense Money

While junior golfers are now regularly clad in corporate logos, have their own tour reps and even endorse brands on their social media bios, the governing bodies are contemplating letting them take those endorsements to another level.

In Ryan Herrington’s Golf World look at where loosened and reimagined amateur status rules may go, he notes this late in the piece.

Where USGA officials see the most opportunity for potential changes to the amateur rules to have a meaningful impact is if restrictions on accepting money for expenses were to go away. Particularly in the case for junior golfers whose families don’t necessarily have the financial resources to compete beyond a very local basis.

“We just feel like would be a game-changer,” Winter says. “Yeah there would be logos in junior golf, but it would give so many more kids access. And it would in some ways democratize what is a pretty expensive sport by giving young players the ability to not only compete in golf but just experience golf in a more robust way, to really level the playing field.”

While I have little doubt there are cases where this will be true and might do wonders for de-emphasizing privileged upbringings, I would hope some in the sport might question the need to corporatize our youth at increasingly younger ages.

USGA, R&A Punt On Amateur Status: Two Years Planned For Modernization Process

While the issues are complex, that no definitive answers are coming for nearly two years on amateur status seems both odd and not surprising.

However, given California legislation that will expedite pay for college athletes and the crumbling notion of what it means to be an amateur golfer, mean waiting two years is too long.

For Immediate Release:

USGA AND THE R&A TO MODERNIZE RULES OF AMATEUR STATUS

LIBERTY CORNER, N.J., and ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (December 9, 2019) – The USGA and The R&A are conducting a review of the Rules of Amateur Status to make them easier to understand and apply.

The comprehensive evaluation is part of the continued joint effort to modernize the Rules by reducing complexity and ensuring the Rules effectively guide how the game is played today.

As part of a review process that began earlier this year, the governing bodies will seek the perspectives of golf’s stakeholders as an integral component of the review process, including elite amateur golfers, golf event organizers, national golf associations, professional golf associations and other industry partners. 

All the same boilerplate stuff from the distance study releases. But go on…

The aim is to provide the golf community with a modernized set of the Amateur Status Rules in late 2021, with the goal of an effective date of January 1, 2022. 

Thomas Pagel, senior managing director of Governance at the USGA, said, “One of golf’s greatest benefits is that it can be played by all ages and played for a lifetime. It is our goal to ensure that the fundamental concept of what it means to be an amateur golfer is clear and retained to promote fair competition and enjoyment for everyone, while still addressing many issues that seek to protect the game. This is a forward-thinking approach and engaging golfers is a key component of doing what’s best for golf.”

Grant Moir, director – Rules at The R&A, said, “We will be looking at the Rules of Amateur Status carefully and considering ways in which we can modernize them and bring them more into line with the way the modern sport is played. The code remains a fundamental framework for amateur golf and we will be listening to the views of players, officials and associations to give us a fully rounded view of how we can improve them.”

More listening to the players to shape rules related to the players. What could go wrong?

Meanwhile, what’s an amateur status press release without a mention of the dreaded hole-in-one prize issue?

In a separate move, effective January 1, 2020, the USGA and The R&A will introduce one change to Rule 3-2b of the Rules of Amateur Status, which regulates hole-in-one prizes. The Rules will no longer limit the prize an amateur golfer may win when making a hole-in-one outside a round of golf, including “stand-alone” and “multiple-entry” hole-in-one events. It is hoped the change will help to promote the game and cater to new audiences as well, and eliminate unnecessary restrictions for event organizers. 

New Rule 3-2b will read as follows:

Rule 3-2b. Hole-in-One Prizes 

An amateur golfer may accept a prize in excess of the limit in Rule 3-2a, including a cash prize, for making a hole-in-one during a round of golf on a golf course.

Now, about the takedown notices and amateur status threats aimed at teenagers who post a video on YouTube…

Amateur Golf Is Doomed, Files: Players Choosing Symetra Tour Life Over Competing For An NCAA Title

I’m loathe to pick on Sierra Brooks for turning pro hot off her Q-Series T-62 finish, guaranteeing Symetra Tour status. A perk she will take while conceding her final few months at Florida where she’s one of college golf’s best players on one of its best teams. But I will anyway.

After all, Brooks is one of many players—male or female—choosing to end her college career to turn pro even if the awaiting opportunities pale in comparison to the college golf structure.

Brooks talked to Golf.com’s Dylan Dethier about her decision despite not securing LPGA Tour status.

Golf is just the latest sport to, in seemingly sound ways, to address the desire of athletes and those around them to test the professional waters with rules that allow players to retain their amateur status while playing at Q-School.

And you know the drill: they do so, and even when faced with long odds or signs that more time in college would serve the athlete well, get convinced that cashing in is the way to go. Just like so many other sports, golf is piling up the cases of can’t-miss prospects who miss, diminishing the interest growth in college golf while not doing what’s best for young people who were often just given bad advice.

In the case of women’s golf, the LPGA’s noble effort to make sure they are open to new talent while also ensuring athletes are ready to perform, all while preserving the health of an important feeder tour in the form of college golf, appears to have failed.

Beth Ann Nichols considers the situation for Golfweek and concludes that allowing amateurs to test those professional waters at Q-School (Series), is not working.

It’s not a bad thing to make these players face a decision that has consequences. The thought process for going to Q-Series and taking that next step without a safety net looks completely different to the current landscape.

Amateurs haven’t always been allowed to participate in Q-School.

Why not go back to that?

It’s up to the LPGA to make some changes that will benefit all of women’s golf. Deferral was a good idea in theory, but there won’t be many Kupchos and Fassis who follow.

College golf isn’t the tour’s responsibility, but it is the main feeder system for the LPGA and Symetra Tour, and the lifeblood of American women’s golf.

Once again, there’s got to be a better way.

NCAA Caves On Athlete Endorsements: What Now For (Golf) Amateur Status?

Steve Berkowitz and Dan Wolken report on the NCAA caving in rather spectacular fashion to California’s fair pay act, voting “unanimously to permit students participating in athletics the opportunity to benefit from the use of their name, image and likeness in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.”

But this was eye-opening given that California’s bill zeroed in on 2023 as the likely start date for such a move.

The statement about the board action did not provide specifics, but said changes to NCAA rules in each of the three divisions could occur immediately, as long as they occur within principles and guidelines that include:

• Assuring student-athletes are treated similarly to non-athlete students unless a compelling reason exists to differentiate.

• Maintaining the priorities of education and the collegiate experience to provide opportunities for student-athlete success.

• Ensuring rules are transparent, focused and enforceable and facilitate fair and balanced competition.

• Making clear the distinction between collegiate and professional opportunities.

• Making clear that compensation for athletics performance or participation is impermissible.

• Reaffirming that student-athletes are students first and not employees of the university.

This would naturally open the door to golf manufacturers to sign players to deals that they already have informal arrangements with to provide equipment. Which, in theory, would be the end of the elite amateur game including top college golfers.

The USGA is monitoring the situation. A statement from Thomas Pagel, Sr. Managing Director, Governance:

“We have been reviewing these same issues for some time, It’s clear that this topic has the potential to impact many amateur sports, including golf. It will continue to be a primary area of discussion as we review the Rules to reflect the modern game, while still staying true to the spirit behind what it means to be an amateur golfer.”

Given the erosion there of amateurism since players could start receiving free equipment and dress like corporate billboards, there may be sympathy for those receiving endorsement income. Ruling them ineligible for prominent amateur events may get chippy!

However, given that golfers like Tony Romo and Lucy Li retained their status even after clearly endorsing products on the back of their golf ability, perhaps some clever lawyer will find a way to maintain the distinction between pro and amateur golfers. But right now, I’m struggling to see how that will work.

Will California's New Law Put Another Nail In The Amateur Status Coffin?

On the surface, major upheaval in college golf seems unlikely when California Governor Gavin Newsom likely signs the assembly bill allowing college athletes to profit off their likeness.

(Steve Berkowitz’s USA Today report here at Golfweek.com.)

This last paragraph in Berkowit’z piece clarifies the student athlete relationship with their school’s official shoe and apparel deals:

The amendments added by the Assembly include provisions designed to address potential conflicts between prospective athlete deals and school deals, such as shoe-and-apparel contracts. An athlete would not be allowed to have a deal that conflicts with a school contract, but a school contract would not be allowed to restrict an athlete from using their name, image and likeness for a commercial purpose when not engaged in official team activities.

While players now get free clubs, are on a first name basis with tour reps, wear corporate logos in the US Amateur and are committed to agents long before announcing the intent to turn pro, amateur status would seem to be a out the window once a player starts profiting off their likeness. The rules are pretty clear on this front.

However, exceptions for Tony Romo and Lucy Li would seem to open a player profiting off their likeness to point to those cases as amateur status-retaining precedent and therefore maintain access to USGA events or the Masters (should they be so fortunate).

The NCAA’s rebuttal is not expected until next month but given the number of athletes and schools in California, they’ll have a hard time containing this given the bill’s easy victory and support from top athletes.

It’s a huge mess, but one brought on by the NCAA’s refusal to find a solution as it rakes in millions and pays its head man $4 million a year on the backs of unpaid athletes.

Video: A Couple Of Walker Cup Mood Setters, Bhatia and Hunter

The official Walker Cup sites includes a nice meet, greet and persimmon testing (189 carry) with Akshay Bhatia, one of Team USA’s first three automatic selections and rising star.

Check it out here.

And for those who want to see 2019 Walker Cup host Hoylake in the old days, a couple of fun Pathe videos. Starting with Willie Hunter winning the 1921 British Amateur (with a wicked stymie play 40 seconds in). Hunter was eventually the longtime pro at Riviera in Los Angeles.

And what’s a visit to Hoylake without a little flashback to 1930 and Bobby Jones?

The Walker Cup Is Back And Where It All Started: Hoylake

Royal Liverpool to be exact, continuing the R&A’s recent tendency to take an event that could go to more exotic locales to Open venues. (I will not complain in 2023 when the Old Course hosts again, assuming there are amateur golfers in 2023.)

But this is nearly 100 years since the first “unofficial” event that became the Walker Cup was played at Hoylake, so we’ll celebrate that near-anniversary when Chick Evans, Bobby Jones, Francis Ouimet and Captain William Fownes were part of a 10-man team that played against Tommy Armour, Cyril Tolley, Roger Wethered and friends.

Anyway…

Team USA arrives two years after routing Great Britain & Ireland in Los Angeles, with only Stewart Hagestad returning from that squad. And the GB&I squads have won four straight, as Declan McGlinley notes here.

You can meet Team USA here in slightly over-the-top fashion.

The Daily Mail’s Derek Lawrenson profiles USA captain Nathaniel Crosby, a former U.S. Amateur champion taking over for Spider Miller.

Matthew Jordan, a 2017 Walker Cupper and now professional golfer, gives a tour of his home clubhouse and the amazing memorabilia recalling past competitions.

Hoylake, a much-revised H.S. Colt effort, appears to be in fantastic shape…

.@RLGCHoylake was founded 150 years ago and is in immaculate condition ahead of The #WalkerCup 🏆

See more beautiful images of this stunning course here 👉 https://t.co/11Y3GIHIJl ⛳️ pic.twitter.com/z8lllPb9RV

— The Walker Cup (@WalkerCup) September 3, 2019

In an apparent nod to the old British Pathe films, sights and sounds from the practice round (in color, minus the newsreel music:

Television coverage, sadly, is limited. Screen grabs from the official site of Sky and Golf Channel highlights shows:

Average World Ranking Of U.S. Amateur Final Eight: 187

Actually, that’s the average of the seven who are ranked. One is unranked.

I offer this not to pick on the lads—average age of 20—who are playing excellent golf at Pinehurst, no doubt. Ron Driscoll’s wrap up and notes at the official site.

Still, as far as U.S. Amateur’s go, with a Walker Cup looming next month, not the best showing for the higher ranked players in the amateur game or much of a momentum builder for interest.

No top ten seeds advanced to the round of eight. Adam Woodward sets up the matchups for Golfweek. The most interesting story left may be that of Austin Squires, the 64th seed who earned his way into match play in a playoff and has knocked off some top players, including the top seed Brandon Wu.

Woodward with Squires’ story.

John Augenstein has the best chance to work his way onto the Walker Cup team despite a rough summer. Ryan Lavner with his story and hopes to work his way into consideration.

Hey on that note, just a reminder Fox has coverage on FS1 Friday, with network coverage of the semi’s and final this weekend.

The matchups:

#USAmateur quarterfinal matchups with WAGR ranks:

Squires (146) v. Trolio (NR)
Ogletree (120) v. Ralston (45)
Augenstein (38) v. Jackson (555)
Holcomb (328) v. Vilips (79)

— Brentley Romine (@BrentleyGC) August 16, 2019

Late Bloomer Gabriela Ruffels Survives Heat, 31st Hole Caddie Switch To Win U.S. Women's Amateur

While the big boys were mired in slow play bickering, a sensational young player emerged in the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Old Waverley.

Brentley Romine notes Gabriela Ruffels’ switch to golf at age 14 paying off with Australia’s first U.S. Women’s Am win and a fast-emerging career that is likely to get plenty of attention during the upcoming year.

And make sure to check out JuliaKate Culpepper’s game story from the final, including the zany story of Ruffels trying to come back in a match while also enduring a caddie switch at the 31st hole due to travel plans of her USC caddie/coach.

In addition to an unrelenting opponent and humid conditions, Ruffels switched caddies from USC head coach Justin Silverstein to Mississippi State junior Blair Stockett on 31st hole as Silverstein had to get to catch a flight for a funeral.

Throwing Stockett, whose home course is Old Waverly, into the mix to replace Silverstein hadn’t been planned for long. In fact, she only had an hour or two to get ready.

“Her mom kind of told me her coach and caddie had to take a flight so they didn’t really know how the timing would line up, but just be ready in case,” Stockett said. “So when they finished and were on lunch break, I marked a couple pins in my book and came out just in case and hole 15 I guess was when he needed to leave so I just jumped on, kept her calm. I knew she had it in her.”

What a way to win the #USWomensAm title for Gabriela Ruffels, throwing a 🎯 into 18 and then answering Albane Valenzuela's stuffed approach with a clinching birdie putt. Phenomenal finish. pic.twitter.com/NjSgyXubGj

— USGA (@USGA) August 11, 2019

U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Semi's Set At Bandon Dunes

Congrats to Scott Harvey and Todd Mitchell in making it to match play in every U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship since the event started in 2015. The two 40-year olds are in Wednesday’s semi-finals at Bandon Dunes’ Old Macdonald, reports David Shefter for USGA.org.

Sadly, with the event the same week as the U.S. Women’s Open, the four-ball at Old Macdonald can’t be seen in video coverage or Fox Sports coverage.