Three advance to U.S. Amateur from Lake Panorama National Resort
Harrison Ott (right), of Brookfield, Wisconsin, claimed the medalist honors at U.S. Amateur Qualifying hosted by Lake Panorama National Golf Course in Panora. Ott went low in the first round, firing a 6-under 66 and was able to follow it up with a 5-under 67 in the final round.
“My goal was to get to 10-under par,” Ott said. “I got to 10-under, but then I bogeyed six. I came back and birdied seven and nine to get to 11-under and finished my round. “I thought 10 would do it, but I just had really good speed on my putt on nine and it ended up dropping.”
Ott wasn’t the only player to post a low score today, Cecil Belisle (left) carded a 70 and a 6-under 66 in his final round to earn second place. Belisle, who is from Red Wing, Minnesota, knew he had some work to do to qualify.
“My mom told me I was in a good spot, and she told me to stay focused and that is what I did,” Belisle said. “I said to myself that you have to make at least one more coming in and I ended up making two more.”
The third qualifying spot went to Dennis Bull (right), of Norwalk, who posted rounds of 68 and 70. Bull stayed inside the top-three for the entirety of the day. Bull recorded a birdie on 14 and 17 to take the third-place finish and the last ticket to Oakmont Country Club, site of the 2021 U.S. Amateur.
“It feels really good to qualify for this thing,” Bull said. “I have been playing well, but my putting has been struggling lately. We got off to a good start today by making a 15-footer for birdie on the first hole. My group played amazing today which really pushed me.”
A playoff was needed to decide the first and second alternates. Connor Peck defeated Nate McCoy on the fourth playoff hole to become the first alternate for the U.S. Amateur. Peck made birdie after just missing the green short with his second shot.
U.S. Amateur Qualifier
1. Harrison Ott 66-67 – Medalist
2. Cecil Belisle 70-66 – Qualifier
3. Dennis Bull 68-70 – Qualifier
4. Connor Peck 70-69 – 1st Alternate
5. Nate McCoy 71-68 – 2nd Alternate