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Ramos Shoots 65 to Medal, Among Nine Minnesotans to Advance From U.S. Amateur Local Qualifying

Ramos Shoots 65 to Medal, Among Nine Minnesotans to Advance From U.S. Amateur Local Qualifying

MORTON, Minn. – Carding three consecutive birdies over his final three holes Wednesday at Dacotah Ridge Golf Club, University of Oklahoma golfer Andrew Ramos fired a round of 7-under 65 to earn medalist honors and a spot in the final stage of qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Amateur.

Ramos claimed one of 11 spots available to the second stage Wednesday, one step away from this year’s national championship, set to be played Aug. 11-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

“It was a good round on a good course,” Ramos said after qualifying Wednesday. “Kept it in play off the tee and made golf easy from there. I basically hit every fairway, and when you have shorter yardage into the par-5s than some of the par-4s, it makes it a lot easier game.

“I’ve got a couple of tournaments between now and [final qualifying], so I plan on practicing a lot and I hope the game will be good. Shooting 6-under back home is a lot different than coming out here and doing it, but it’s nice to put a good round together.”

A former Totino-Grace High School standout, Ramos played his opening nine in 3-under Wednesday before sinking his birdie opportunity at the par-5 13th.

Converting a birdie chance from inside of three feet at the 16, Ramos then got a fortunate bounce to capitalize on a second straight birdie at the 17th.

Ramos put his second from 180 yards with a 9-iron to the middle of the green at the par-5 18th, where he’d two-putt for one final birdie to finish on top of the leaderboard at 7-under 65.

Ramos previously qualified for the 2023 U.S. Junior at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, S.C., shooting 79-74 to miss the cut for match play by eight strokes. He will begin his sophomore season for the Sooners this fall.

Iowa State University sophomore Owen Sawyer earned a spot in the second stage of qualifying Wednesday, looking for an appearance at his first USGA championship later this month.

“I struck the ball pretty well, gave myself a handful of good looks and made some good birdie putts,” said the Cedar Falls, Iowa native Wednesday. “Capitalized on a couple of the more makeable ones and never really got too far in trouble. I was able to capitalize on a couple of the par-5s, which is important. Putted pretty well and didn’t have any three-putts.”

Playing his front nine in 4-under Wednesday, Sawyer carded an early bogey to open his inward nine, but got a boost from a string of three consecutive birdies, helping him to a 5-under 67.

“I wouldn’t say I was hitting the ball great coming in, kind of struggling with my driver a little bit,” he said. “But I’ve done this enough where I go into a tournament not hitting the ball that well and played just fine during the tournament. Sort of had that in the back of my head and knew if I kept the ball in play and stayed focused, I thought I’d be fine.”

Recent Ball State University graduate Braxton Kuntz turned in a steady round of 4-under 68, carding an eagle, three birdies and a bogey to finish in a share of third place with Gustavus Adolphus College sophomore Jimmy Abdo.

“I hit it great and hit a long putt on the first hole—great way to start,” said Kuntz. “Kept hitting greens and missing putts after that, so I was getting a little frustrated, but I bounced back. Overall, I hit every green except one and I hit the pin, and it rolled off.

“I knew with the wind being down and the greens being soft that I’d have to shoot pretty low, so I wanted to go out and play with confidence and not press too hard. I think I did a pretty good job of that.”

Kuntz and former Ball State teammate Carter Smith advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2025 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, N.J. for his inaugural appearance at a USGA championship.

Kuntz, 21, who hails from Winnipeg, Ontario, is a four-time winner of the Manitoba Amateur, a two-time winner of the Manitoba Junior Amateur, and finished tied for third at last season’s Canadian Amateur.

New Mexico Junior College sophomore P.J. Herron carded three birdies during his final eight holes Wednesday to finish in a share of fifth at 3-under 69 to advance with recent Alexandria High School graduate Carver Larson and University of North Dakota junior Kagan Kollar.

Coming off his impressive 10-stroke victory Tuesday at the 2025 Minnesota Boys’ Junior PGA Championship at The Quarry at Giants Ridge Golf and Ski Resort, Isaac Ahn fired a 2-under 70 Wednesday to finish in a share of eighth place before advancing from a 6-for-4 playoff.

Earning the final three spots at final qualifying were recent Twin Cities Championship winner Ralph Baxley, Bobby Frazzini and recent Cretin-Derham Hall graduate and Class AAA individual medalist Sam Udovich.

Connor Peck, of Ankeny, Iowa, finished as first alternate Wednesday, while Jacob Ferrin, from Excelsior, Minn., finished as the second alternate.

Final qualifying for the 2025 U.S. Amateur will take place July 14-30 at 19 sites across the country.

The historic Olympic Club in San Francisco will play host to its 12th USGA championship next month and the fourth time the U.S. Amateur has been conducted at the club, most recently the 2007 championship won by Colt Knost.

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