Schlottman advances to match play at U.S. Amateur; Gilchrest in playoff
AUBURN, Ala. (auburntigers.com) – Junior Ben Schlottman made the 64-player cut to advance to U.S. Amateur match play on Tuesday while senior Matt Gilchrest will participate in a 23-player playoff for eight spots at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. Gilchrest tees off on No. 10 at 7:24 am CT Wednesday in the playoff.
Schlottman, an Advance, N.C., native, t-30th at even-par 66-74—140. He averaged 72.57 last season with four top-10 finishes last season after becoming the first freshman in Auburn history to earn honorable mention All-America honors.
Schlottman faces Mario Galiano, who also tied for 30th at 69-71—140, at 11 am CT in the first round of match play.
Gilchrest, a Southlake, Texas, native, made the playoff tying for 57th at 2-over 70-72—142. He carded five birdies on the day on Nos. 1, 6 and 7 on the front nine and 12 and 14 on the back.
A first-team All-SEC selection as a sophomore, Gilchrest averaged 72.43 last season with five top-10 finishes including a career-best third at the SEC Championship, and was also named an Academic Top Tiger.
He was the only amateur in the 132-player Barbasol field in July, just missing the cut in his PGA Tour debut finishing 1-over 70-71—141, one stroke off the cut line. He finished third and was low amateur in the Texas State Open.
Sophomores Graysen Huff (4-over 71-73—144) and Trace Crowe (6-over 69-77—146) failed to make the cut.
Alex Smalley of Duke University won stroke play medalist honors at 7-under 65-68—133.
Match play begins Wednesday. The rounds of 32 and 16 are on Thursday with quarterfinals and semifinals played Friday and Saturday. The 36-hole championship match will be played on Sunday.
Television coverage begins Wednesday on Fox Sports 1 from 2-5 pm Central followed by Thursday on USGA from 10 am – noon and Fox Sports 1 from 2-5 pm. The quarterfinals on Friday will air on Fox Sports 1 from 2-5 pm while the semifinals on Saturday air on FOX from 2-5 pm. The 36-hole championship on Sunday airs on USGA from 10-noon and on FOX from 2-5 pm.
