SCORING | GALLERY (to come)
JOHNSTOWN — Hunter Swidzinski’s impressive summer just keeps on rolling.
Swidzinski, the Western Pennsylvania native who has dazzled with strong play in recent weeks, shot an 8-under score of 62 Monday during U.S. Amateur Local Qualifying at Sunnehanna Country Club.
“I’m just a really big fan of the course, it suits me,” said Swidzinski, a rising college junior who recently announced his transfer from Longwood to UNC Wilmington. “I got off to a decent start making pars in the first couple holes and rolled in two long birdie putts in the middle of the front nine.
“I made one more to close and felt I was in a good spot at three under through nine. I just wanted to keep it going and not worry about where the cut inevitably would be. I hit some good irons and made some more putts to start the back nine. Then I just wanted to see how low I could go out there.”
And low Swidzinski went. He carded an eagle and two birdies on holes 11, 12 and 13, propelling him to an overall mark that ended just one stroke off of the Sunnehanna course record.
“At that point, I was definitely on a roll,” he said. “I really wasn’t worried about anything and was hoping to make as many birdies as I could coming in. I was still trying to play things smart, just in case. You never know, anything can happen.”
But the Butler High School grad had little to be concerned over, leading the pack of 13 players who advanced to the Final Qualifying stage of the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship.
Nate Faulkner of Roanoke, Virginia and Carnegie Mellon grad Jason Li of Sewickley shot 6-under scores of 62, good for second place. Matthew Javier shot 5-under to place fourth, while Eli Ropietski and Jackson Woodburn tied for fifth at 4-under.
“If you’re a good driver of the golf ball, this place can be good for you,” said Swidzinski, who earned top qualifying honors at this month’s Sunnehanna Amateur qualifier before tying for 29th place in the prestigious amateur championship days later. “I've been hitting my driver really good recently and I have enough length to just give myself wedges in.
“If you can hit driver, then wedge on most holes and can get it in there close, that gives you a lot of chances for birdies. That's something that suits me well.”
Also qualifying Monday for the next stage — in which players may choose their site — were Nick Alexander, Church Tragesser, Timothy Peters, Bradford Lacefield, Breckin Taylor and Vaughn McMeans at 3-under. Amani D’Ambrosio and Owen Corby took alternate positions following a four-hole playoff, with each shooting 2-under.
But it Swidzinski who continued to shine this summer, having qualified recently for the Southern Amateur, having won the Tri-State Amateur title, having set the Olde Stonewall course record and having held the 36-hole lead at the WPGA Amateur Championship earlier this month.
“I shot a 64 at the West Penn Am here last year, but this is definitely by best round ever at Sunnehanna,” said Swidzinski, who has felt some relief after deciding to transfer to a strong program in UNC Wilmington. “I’m happy with what my future is going to be and that I don’t have to worry about the hassle of going through that anymore. I can just focus on golf and golf only.”
The 126th U.S. Amateur is set for Ardmore, Pa.’s Merion Golf Club from August 10-16. Final Qualifying will take place throughout July.
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