Putnam, Connecticut (June 29, 2022) – On Wednesday at Connecticut National Golf Club Jared Nelson and Bobby Leopold earned spots in the 122nd U.S. Amateur set to be played from August 15-21 at The Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey.
Nelson, a winner at the Hornblower Memorial Golf Tournament earlier in the month, played two stellar rounds firing a 5-under 66 in the first round and a 4-under 67 in the second round to post 9-under and earn medalist honors by a commanding four strokes.
Beginning his first round on the par-4 10th Nelson got off to a quick start playing his opening nine in 3-under thanks to a four birdie, one bogey side. Nelson, who recently completed his senior year for the UConn golf team, continued his fine play on his second nine rolling in three additional birdies against only one bogey.
“I didn’t really do anything that special,” the Vermont native said. “I played solid all day drove it well and hit a lot of greens to give myself a lot of looks at birdie.”
In the second round, Nelson continued to get good looks at birdie as he played the round in a bogey-free 4-under 67. Overall, across 36-holes Nelson birdied 11 times and bogeyed just twice. Nelson’s trip to the U.S. Amateur will be his second USGA event after he competed in the 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball.
Bobby Leopold, a veteran of nearly 20 USGA events, earned the second spot in dramatic fashion. Tied after regulation at 5-under with Ben Day a playoff was needed to determine the final spot. On the first extra hole, the par-5 first, Leopold’s drive found a fairway bunker. Knowing that Day would likely get up and down for birdie Leopold played aggressively electing to hit a 5-iron despite being close to the lip of the bunker. The gamble paid off as the ball landed just short of the green. With Day inside 15 feet for birdie, all Leopold was looking to do was roll his chip close to set up a birdie try.
“Ben and I are good friends,” Bobby Leopold said. “Once I knew I was playing against Ben I knew I would need to birdie to have any chance.”
The Rhode Island mid-amateur did one better jarring the eagle chip and securing his first trip to the U.S. Amateur since 2015.
“The U.S. Amateur is the pinnacle of all amateur events in the world so qualifying for the U.S. Amateur is really special,” said Leopold who has reached the Round of 16 twice. “I’ve come close so many times [in recent years] so it felt like it was my time to make it happen.”
Day will be the first alternate while Matthew Naumec will be the second alternate.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
