A 72 by Schmitz Leads Minnesotans at U.S. Amateur in Michigan

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  BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – Carding a round of 2-over par 72 Monday, Sammy Schmitz leads a total of four Minnesotans at the 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club.

After one round of play Schmitz is tied for 118th after his 72, while Paul Stankey and Jonathan Hanner finished the first round tied for 263rd at 7-over par 77. Matt Bennett carded an opening round 81 and will begin Tuesday’s second round tied for 305th.

Dawson Armstrong, Brentwood, Tenn., took the early lead Monday as he carded a 6-under par 64. Helped by rolling in four birdies with one bogey on the front nine at the South Course, Armstrong carded another three birdies during the final nine holes to shoot 66 and take a 2-stroke lead to Tuesday’s second round.

Schmitz, Farmington, Minn., earned exemptions into the U.S. Amateur through 2018 after winning the 2015 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in Florida, which he earned an exemption through 2025.

Starting his first round on 10th tee of the North Course Monday, Schmitz rolled in a birdie on his opening hole and added another at the par-5 12th to quickly dip into red numbers before turning at even par following a double-bogey at the 17th.

The four-time Minnesota Golf Association Player of the Year remained even with a pair of birdies and two bogeys over the first five holes on the back nine before taking back-to-back bogeys at the seventh and eighth holes to finish the first round of play at 72.

Stankey, Wayzata, Minn., began his first round on the 10th tee of the South Course Monday and carded consecutive pars before taking bogey at the 15th to fall to 1-over. He would turn at 3-over following a bogey at the 17th and a double at the 18th.

The soon-to-be senior at Providence Academy carded three bogeys over his final nine holes Monday and will begin the second round Tuesday tied for 263rd.

Hanner, Minneapolis, Minn., started quickly at the North Course Monday, carding a birdie on his second hole before taking four bogeys over the next seven holes to turn at 3-over.

Taking a double-bogey at the 11th, Hanner rebounded by sinking his birdie chance at the 12th to get to 4-over. Hanner would card another three bogeys over the final six holes to finish tied with Stankey at 7-over par 77.

Bennett, Marshall, Minn., started fast with a birdie at the second hole on the South Course Monday, but would play the next seven holes at 6-over par to turn at 5-over.

Taking back-to-back bogeys to open the back nine, Bennett answered by rolling in his birdie look at the 12th. He would finish the opening 18 holes with five consecutive bogeys to card an 11-over par 81.

The 2016 U.S. Amateur Championship continues Tuesday as the final round of stroke play is scheduled to begin at 6:40 a.m. at Oakland Hills Country Club.



2016 U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
OAKLAND HILLS COUNTRY CLUB
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICH.

NORTH COURSE
6,827 YARDS, PAR 70

SOUTH COURSE
7,129 YARDS, PAR 70


MONDAY’S RESULTS
1. Dawson Armstrong, Brentwood, Tenn., 32-32—64
T2. Robin Petersson, Sweden, 31-34—65
T2. Alex Smalley, Wake Forest, N.C., 32-33—65
T2. Gavin Hall, Pittsford, N.Y., 34-31—65
T5. Ben Schlottman, Winston Salem, N.C., 33-33—66
T5. Sam Horsfield, England, 33-33—66
T5. Taylor Funk, Ponte Vedra, Fla., 33-33—66
T5. Benjamin Griffin, Chapel Hill, N.C., 34-32—66
T5. Cristobal Del Solar, Chile, 32-34—66
T5. Marc Dull, Winter Haven, Fla., 34-32—66

T118. SAMMY SCHMITZ, FARMINGTON, MINN., 37-35—72
T263. PAUL STANKEY, WAYZATA, MINN., 38-39—77
T263. JONATHAN HANNER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 38-39—77
T305. MATT BENNETT, MARSHALL, MINN., 40-41—81


For complete tournament results go to: www.usga.org/championships/2016/u-s--amateur/scoring.html