Matteson Qualifies For U.S. Amateur

BOULDER — University of Colorado sophomore golfer Adam Matteson has qualified for next month's U.S. Amateur, as he finished second in one of the 56 regional qualifiers on Monday.
 
Matteson turned in a 67-71—138 performance on the Valencia Country Club course in Valencia, Calif., which was 4-under par; he was two back of the medalist, Tyler Schafer, who had a 66-70—136 scorecard.  Matteson had nine birdies and 22 pars on the day, with just five bogeys.  After making the turn in his afternoon round at 2-over, he pulled away from other competitors with birdies on Nos. 13 and 17 to get back to even par.
 
He finished third on the team in stroke average this past spring with a 73.37 mark for 19 rounds.
 
Incoming freshman Justin Biwer finished fourth in the qualifier at Bernardo Heights country Club in San Diego, also with a 4-under effort of 71-69—140 on the course's par-72 layout.  The top two players qualified with 136 and 137 totals, with the first alternate scoring 137 as well.  Biwer recorded 10 birdies and 21 pars against four bogeys and a double; had it not been for a rough patch on the back nine (which were his first nine) in his first round where he was plus-4 over a six-hole stretch he may have been in contention later in the day.  To his credit, from that point on he was 6-under par the remainder of the day.
 
Freshman Jacob Mason tied for 15th Monday in the qualifier at Fort Collins Country Club, as he shot 73-74—147 (7-over).  He was 10 strokes back of the lead, and had five birdies and 23 pars on his day.
 
The 121st U.S. Amateur will take place August 9-15 at Oakmont Country Club (Oakmont, Pa.) and Longue Vue Club (Verona, Pa.).  Stroke play the first two days will reduce the field from 312 to 64 competitors, with match play commencing at Oakmont on Wednesday, August 11.  Two rounds will be played on Thursday, August 12 to reduce the field to eight players, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, the latter a 36-hole match, daily afterward.  The Golf Channel will provide extensive coverage.