Matteson Opens With A 2-Over 72 In U.S. Amateur

VERONA, Pa. — University of Colorado sophomore Adam Matteson opened play here Monday in the 121st U.S. Amateur with a 2-over par 72, which has him tied for 83rd overall heading into the second and final round of the stroke play qualifying portion of the week-long event.
 
The 312-man field is split between the legendary Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh, and Longue Vue Club in Verona, where Matteson competed Monday.  He recorded one birdie and 14 pars with three bogeys for his round on the 6,705-yard, par-70 course layout.
 
Oakmont was the tougher of the two courses Monday, as Matteson tied for 67th out of the 156 players who were assigned to Longue Vue.  He will tee off at 12:35 p.m. MT on Tuesday off the No. 10 tee at Oakmont; it's the second-to-last tee time on the day, so Matteson will be in the fortunate position of knowing exactly what he needs to do to advance to match play.
 
Matteson birdied the par-5 4th hole and scored bogeys on Nos. 1, 9 and 17.  Jacob Bridgman, from Inman, S.C. and a senior on the Clemson University golf team, leads the field after 18 holes with a 7-under par 63 total.  In all, 42 players recorded scores under par and another 18 were even, but the just 23 players are 3-under or better.
 
Stroke play the first two days will reduce the field from 312 to 64 competitors, with match play commencing at Oakmont on Wednesday.  Two rounds will be played on Thursday to reduce the field to eight players, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, the latter a 36-hole match, daily afterward.   Television coverage begins Wednesday on the Golf Channel and NBC's Peacock.