In a field of savvy college players at the U.S. Amateur, Rockville’s Denny McCarthy has been one of the few high school players who have reached match play the last two years.
Thursday in the 111th U.S. Amateur, McCarthy lost in the round of 64 for the second straight year. The Georgetown Prep grad, bound this fall for Virginia, fell to Tim Madigan, 3 and 2.
Madigan, a recent graduate of New Mexico State and the WAC player of the year the last two seasons, led all the way after winning the first two holes. McCarthy, a member at Argyle, made a run with birdies at No. 9 and No. 11 at Erin Hills (Wis.), but Madigan regained control, winning the next hole.
In the afternoon, round of 32, Madigan lost to Suni Jung of Korea, 5 and 4. Also falling in the second round of match play was 16-year-old Beau Hossler, the youngest player at this year’s U.S. Open.
Others who advanced to the round of 16 in a highly-competitive field include two-time U.S. Junior Amateur champion Jordan Spieth; England’s Tom Lewis, who shot an opening-round 65 to tie for the lead in the 2011 British Open; 2011 NCAA champion John Peterson (LSU); 2010 NCAA champion Scott Langley (Illinois); and defending U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein (Oklahoma State).
Also advancing was Patrick Cantlay (UCLA), who made the cut in the U.S. Open at Congressional, then shot a 60 in the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship. Cantlay beat Russell Henley (Georgia), winner of a Nationwide Tour event earlier this year, 3 and 1.
Harris English (Georgia), who also won a Nationwide Tour event this year, lost to the most surprising player in the field, Bobby Leopold, a 26-year-old Englishman who now lives in Cranston, R.I. Leopold won the match 4 and 3. In the first round of match play, Leopold beat medalist and No. 1 seed Gregor Main (UCLA).
Leopold, the No. 64 seed was the last player to advance out of stroke play, emerging in a 20-for-4 playoff.
