THE FLATS – Georgia Tech golfer Ross Steelman continued his high-level performances in match play events last week, winning medalist honors at the Western Amateur in Highland Park, Ill., and advancing to the quarterfinals of the match play bracket.
After opening with a 2-over-par 72, the Columbia, Mo., native got hot, recording 18 birdies and an eagle over the next three rounds, carding scores of 64-66-68 for a 72-hole total of 270 (-14), winning medalist honors by two strokes over Matthis Besard of Belgium, and three over William Mouw of Chico, Calif.
Ranked 27th in the world, Steelman remained strong in his round of 16 match, scoring a 5&4 win over another Belgian, 17th-ranked Adrien Dumont de Chassart. He lost just one hole in the match before closing out the University of Illinois senior with a long birdie putt on the par-3 14th-hole. The Yellow Jacket senior looked like he would continue his roll in his quarterfinal match against 15th-ranked Travis Vick, taking a 4-hole lead before losing steam and dropping a 2&1 match to the University of Texas senior.
Fellow Tech seniors Bartley Forrester and Connor Howe also were competitive in the event, making the cut to 44 players for the final 36 holes of stroke play, and wound up tied for 30th and 38th, respectively.
Earlier this summer, Steelman finished runner-up in stroke play at the North & South Amateur, posting rounds of 69-65 for a 6-under-par total of 134. He won his round of 32 match over Joshua Bai, 3&2, before falling to high school senior Ben James, in 20 holes in the round of 16. He also has tied for 11th at the Sunnehanna Amateur and tied for 33rd at the Southern Amateur this summer.
He will close out his summer next week at the 122nd U.S. Amateur in Paramus, N.J., having reached the quarterfinals last August. Forrester, No. 76 in WAGR, also will compete after winning a final qualifier in late June to earn his spot.
Four Georgia Tech players have won major amateur events since December, most recently at the end of July when Andy Mao captured the title at the Southeastern Amateur in Columbus, Ga. Forrester won the Monroe Invitational in early July, while Aidan Kramer won the Rice Planters Amateur in late June, and Howe captured the Patriot All-America Invitational in December.
Steelman at the Western Amateur
Photos courtesy of the Western Golf Association
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Georgia Tech’s golf team has completed 27 years under head coach Bruce Heppler, winning 70 tournaments in his tenure. The Yellow Jackets have won 18 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 31 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) and Instagram. For more information on Tech golf, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
