Aug. 23, 2005
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech graduate Nicholas Thompson is tied for 44th place after firing a two-over-par 72 Monday, while incoming freshman Adam Cohan shot three-over 73 and is tied for 65th place after the first day of stroke play at the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship in Ardmore, Pa.
Thompson played his first round at the 6,846-yard Merion Golf Club, which is the course on which the match play portion of the championship will be contested. Cohan played Monday at the 6,967 Philadelphia Country Club course. They will switch courses for Tuesday’s round, after which the 312-player field will be trimmed to the top 64 for the beginning of match play Wednesday.
Thompson is playing in his fifth U.S. Amateur, having advanced to the round of 16 last year. Cohan is playing in his first.
Charlie Beljan, 20, of Mesa, Ariz., made nine birdies and shot a 6-under-par 64 at Philadelphia Country Club to lead the field by four strokes after the first round. Beljan’s nearest challengers were Andrew Parr, 22, and Ryan Yip, 20, of Canada; Ryan Blaum, 21, of Coral Gables, Fla.; Jay Choi, 21, of Cerritos, Calif.; and Chandler Cocco, 20, of Bend, Ore, who finished at 2-under 68 at Philadelphia C.C.. The low scorers at Merion were 36-year-old Mark Strickland of Woodstock, Ga., and Todd Mitchell, 27, of Bloomington, Ill., who had a 1-under-par 69s over the 6,846-yard championship course.
Thompson’s and Cohan’s progress in the championship can be followed at the official site of the U.S. Amateur.
