Last summer and fall, players from around the country competed in qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. After months of waiting, the time has finally come to tee it up at Kiawah Island Club.
The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball is a relatively new event. Both the men's and women's events were first held in 2015. It has offered a great outlet for golfers to reach the heights of a USGA event, which is the pinnacle of golf in the United States.
Last week, the Women's U.S. Four-Ball was held in Washington. The only pair to qualify from New England was sisters Molly Smith and Morgan Smith of Westford, Mass. They qualified for match play, but lost in the Round of 32.
The U.S. Amateur Four-Ball starts with 36 holes of stroke play on Saturday and Sunday. The field of 128 teams is cut down to the low 32 team. There will be five rounds of match play, starting Monday with the first round. The second and quarterfinal rounds are slated for Tuesday. The semifinals will be played Wednesday morning, with the 18-hole championship match scheduled to follow that afternoon.
The men's qualifiers from New England have a range of experience. There are state amateur champions, mid-am champions, and future Hall of Famers among the group. The meritocracy of golf is on full display during qualifying rounds. It's the beautiful part of these types of events.
Let's meet the New England players heading to Kiawah Island Club.