THE FLATS – Looking to complete a strong summer finish and springboard into the fall Georgia Tech season, sophomore Noah Norton and juniors Andy Ogletree and Tyler Strafaci begin competition Monday morning at the 118th U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif.
Ogletree and Strafaci, who reached the round of 32 of match play last summer, are in the field for the third time each (2015, 2017, 2018), while Norton is making his second appearance after advancing to the round of 16 in 2017. The trio will be chasing a title won five times by Georgia Tech’s legendary Bobby Jones (1924 1925, 1927, 1928, 1930), and most recently by Matt Kuchar (1997).
The eventual champion, crowned in a 36-hole final next Sunday, endures a grueling week of golf, beginning with 36 holes of stroke play Monday and Tuesday at famed Pebble Beach Golf Links (7,075 yards, par 71) and Spyglass Hill Golf Course (6,987 yards, par 72). Each of the entrants will play one round at Spyglass Hill and one round at Pebble Beach. After Tuesday, the top 64 finishers qualify for match play competition – round of 64 Wednesday, rounds of 32 and 16 Thursday, quarterfinal matches Friday, semifinal matches Saturday and the 36-hole championship match on Sunday. All matches will take place at Pebble Beach.
FS1 will provide television coverage Monday through Friday, with the Fox network taking over coverage of the semifinals and finals Saturday and Sunday. The USGA will provide live streaming of early round of 32 matches and the early portion of the championship match before Fox comes on the air.
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Norton (Chico Calif.), who made the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team as a freshman this past spring and was named to the Golf Coaches Association’s national All-Freshman team, advanced from a sectional qualifier July 9 by finishing second to capture one of three spots available in Fairfield, Calif. Ogletree (Little Rock, Miss.) finished third in a July 24 qualifier in Macon, Ga. Strafaci (Davie, Fla.), who also made the All-ACC team and reached the match play semifinals of the Western Amateur last week, is exempt as one of 16 players who competed in the U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.
Strafaci carries the highest World Amateur Golf Ranking of the Tech trio at No. 65 following his performance at the Western Amateur, while Norton is No. 104 and Ogletree is ranked No. 264.
U.S. Amateur Schedule of Competition
Monday, Aug. 13: First round, stroke play (18 holes)
Tuesday, Aug. 14: Second round, stroke play (18 holes)
Wednesday, Aug. 15: First round, match play
Thursday, Aug. 16: Second and third rounds, match play
Friday, Aug. 17: Quarterfinal round, match play
Saturday, Aug. 18: Semifinal round, match play
Sunday, Aug. 19: Championship match (36 holes)
Tee Times for Georgia Tech Players (Pacific time)
Noah Norton – 1:06 p.m. Monday (Aug. 13), Spyglass Hill, hole #1 / 7:51 a.m. Tuesday (Aug. 14), Pebble Beach, hole #10
Andy Ogletree – 9:15 a.m. Monday (Aug. 13), Pebble Beach, hole #10 / 2:30 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 14), Spyglass Hill, hole #1
Tyler Strafaci – 8:54 a.m. Monday (Aug. 13), Spyglass Hill, hole #1 / 2:09 p.m. Tuesday (Aug 14), Pebble Beach, hole #10
Television Coverage
Fox and FS1 will air coverage of the match-play portion of the competition from Aug. 15-19.
Date / Network / Broadcast Hours (Local/PDT)
Aug. 15 / FS1 / Round-of-64 matches, 2-5 p.m.
Aug. 16 / FS1 / Rounds-of-32 and 16 matches, 4-7 p.m.
Aug. 17 / FS1 / Quarterfinal matches, 4-7 p.m.
Aug. 18 / Fox / Semifinal matches, 9 a.m.-noon
Aug. 19 / Fox / Championship match, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Live Streaming Coverage
The U.S. Amateur will receive at least four hours of live streaming coverage on usga.org.
Date / Channel / Broadcast Hours (Local/PDT)
Aug. 16 / usga.org / Round-of-32 matches, 12 p.m.-2 p.m.
Aug. 19 / usga.org / Championship match, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH GOLF
Georgia Tech’s golf team recently concluded its 23rd year under head coach Bruce Heppler. The Yellow Jackets have won 17 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 32 appearances in the NCAA Championship and been the national runner-up four times. Connect with Georgia Tech Golf on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GTGolf). For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
