NCAA Champion James Lepp Takes Medalist Honors At The U.S. Amateur

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Ardmore, Pa. – James Lepp, 20, of Canada, had six birdies and shot a 5-under-par 65 at Philadelphia Country Club Tuesday for a 36-hole total of 5-under 135 to take medalist honors for the stroke-play portion of the U.S. Amateur hosted by Merion Golf Club. Korey Mahoney, 21, of East Lansing, Mich., was four shots back with a 67-139.

Lepp scored an even-par 70 for his first round Monday at Merion, which now becomes the home course for the six rounds of match play. The championship runs through the 36-hole championship final on Sunday, with the winner receiving exemptions into next year’s U.S. Open, British Open and Masters Tournament.

The reigning Division I NCAA individual champion, Lepp is a senior at the University of Washington. He will be the top seed among the 64 lowest scorers heading into Wednesday’s first round of match play that will start at 8 a.m. (EDT).

"It’s an honor to win the medal, but what matters most is the match play," said Lepp, who shot 63 for his final round of the NCAAs in June. "This tournament is all about match play. I’m happier that I’m just playing well and I feel confident."

Lepp and Mahoney were the only two golfers to finish with sub-par totals. First round leader Charlie Beljan, 20, of Mesa, Ariz., who posted a 64 at Philadelphia CC, slipped to a 76 at Merion and was one of two golfers in at even-par 140. Austin Eaton, 36, of North Sutton, N.H., winner of the 2004 U.S. Mid-Amateur, was in a group of four who were another stroke behind at 141.

The cut for match play came at 6-over-par 146, with 19 golfers in a playoff to determine the final 17 spots. The playoff will start at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday on the par 3 13th hole.

Six of the 14 players entered who competed in the Walker Cup Match between the USA and Great Britain and Ireland earlier this month safely advanced to match play, headed by 23-year-old Lee Williams of Alexander City, Ala., who was in the group at 141. Another four Walker-Cuppers are in the playoff, as is Nate Lashley, 22, of Scotsbluff, Neb., who had a hole-in-one Tuesday that helped his cause.

The oldest golfer to advance was 52-year-old George Zahringer of New York, N.Y., the 2002 Mid-Amateur champ who also played in the 1989 Amateur held at Merion. Other notables who advanced were 2003 Mid-Amateur winner Nathan Smith, 27, of Brookville, Pa., and 2004 U.S. Junior Amateur champ Sihwan Kim, 16, of Fullerton, Calif. Both finished at 143. Kim is the youngest to safely advance to match play.

Of the 311 rounds played at Merion, just four players were able to break par 70 on the 6,846-yard layout, and each had 1-under 69s. One of those who rebounded with a 69 at Merion Tuesday was Dustin Pimm, 19, of Sandy, Utah, and it got him a chance in the playoff. Fifteen-year-old Morgan Hoffman of Wyckoff, N.J., is also in the playoff.

In contrast, 30 sub-par rounds were posted at Philadelphia CC., where the best score was Beljan’s 64 on Monday.

The Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs. The Amateur is the Association’s oldest championship, first played in 1895.

** Lepp wins first round in match play ......................................... details