Eight New York Golfers Flock to Pebble Beach for 118th U.S. Amateur

August 15, 2018

PEBBLE BEACH, CA. -- Eight players from New York traveled across the United States to the famous Pebble Beach Golf Links this week to compete in the 118th U.S. Amateur Championship.

The group included Gray Barnes of Centennial Golf Club, Jack Casler of Garden City Country Club, Christian Cavaliere of Mahopac Golf & Beach Club, Darin Goldstein of Noyac Golf Club, Art Griffin of Lake Placid Club, Stewart Hagestad of Deepdale Golf Club, Matthew Lowe of Colonial Springs Golf Club, and Ben Reichert of River Oaks Golf Club.

Related: US Amateur Scoring

Hagestad, was the only one in the group to advance into the match play bracket after following up his opening 76 with a bogey-free 66 to finish at 1-under at 142, and tied for tenth. In the round of 64, he defeated Harry Hall of England, 1 up. During his next match, he defeated Davis Chatfield of Massachussetts, 4 & 3. Hagestad came close to advancing to the quaterfinals, but fell to Isaiah Salinda of California, 1 up, after missing his birdie putt, while Salinda was able to convert his.

Stroke play qualifying was conducted on both Pebble Beach Golf Links, and co-host Spyglass Hill Golf Course, both in Pebble Beach, California. The two-round cut fell at 4-over par, with the 24 tied at the number, having to play off for the final qualifying spot. 

Lowe and Goldstein finished the best out of the eight unable to make the cut at 9-over 152. Cavaliere finished at 158, Griffin at 160, Reichert at 161, Barnes at 165 and Casler at 173. 

Cavaliere opened stroke play with a 2-over 73 at Pebble Beach and was in good position to qualify for match play, but struggled during the second day at Spyglass to card an 85.

All seven who qualified, did so by way of 36-hole sectional qualifiers held around the country this summer.

Goldstein - Co-medalist at Country Club of Darien in Darien, Conn. on July 23rd, 2018 (138)

Lowe - Medalist at Brookville Country Club in Glen Head, N.Y. on July 23rd, 2018 (140)

Casler - Qualified at Brookville Country Club in Glen Head, N.Y. on July 23rd, 2018 (141)

Reichert - Qualified at Totteridge Golf Club/Hannastown Golf Club in Greensburg, P.A. on July 23rd, 2018 (138)

Cavaliere - Medalist at Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison, N.Y. on July 23rd, 2018 (137)

Barnes - Medalist at Redding Country Club in Redding, Conn. on July 23rd, 2018 (135)

Griffin - Co-medalist at Seven Oaks Golf Club in Hamilton, N.Y. on July 9th, 2018 (140)

Hagestad - Exempt from sectional qualifying (2018 U.S. Open Qualifier, 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, 2017 U.S. Walker Cup competitor, Top 50 WAGR)

The championship is scheduled to continue through Sunday, August 19th, upon which a winner will more than likely be determined.