James Sugrue

James Sugrue is through to the final 64 in the US Amateur in Pinehurst, North Carolina.  The Mallow man was on the cut line of +4 when play was suspended last night, and had two holes to play to complete his round.  Needing two pars to get rthrough, Sugrue made quick work of the par three 17th, birdieing the hole to put himself in a great position.  He finished off the round with a regulation par on the difficult closing hole to qualify in the top half of the draw on +3.

Speaking after the strokeplay was completed, Sugrue was delighted to progress.  “I was just thinking par-par to be honest as they are two tough holes.  There was a lot of rain overnight and the course softened up a bit, so I was delighted to make the putt on 17.  The greens had been running at 13.5 so I had been very tentative earlier in the week.”  Pinehurst No 2, famous from the 2014 US Open among other majors is proving to be one of the toughest US Amateur courses, the 7,400 yard Donald Ross designed course is playing to a stroke average of 77, proving to be a worthy challenge for the world’s top amateurs.

The Amateur Champion is up against England’s Alex Fitzpatrick in the round of 64 and he’s looking forward to the matchplay format, despite the challenge of the course.    “It’s the hardest course I’ve played and you have to be really cute about where you put the ball.  At least now I can give a few putts a go after the rain.”