Honesdale’s Eric Williams tops U.S. Amateur Championship qualifier

  BLUE BELL, Pa.–Eric Williams of Honesdale, Pa., a member at Honesdale GC, posted a pair of 72s in a U.S. Amateur Championship qualifier on Monday at Cedarbrook CC (par 72, 7,076 yards)/Meadowlands CC (par 71, 6,465 yards) to take medallist honors and earn a trip out West. It will be Williams’ second trip to the U.S. Amateur set for Aug. 20-26 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

  “I was proud that I was able to finish strong,” said Williams, who played his final six holes in 1-under par. “The pressure can get to you. Especially for this.”

  Williams carded a first-round, 1-over-par 72 in the morning at Meadowlands CC despite registering a quadruple-bogey nine on No. 17 (par 5, 487 yards). The 34-year-old lumber broker made four birdies, a bogey and that quad.

  On No. 17, Williams lost his drive right, was forced to chip out his second tee shot from almost the same place he lost his first and got stuck in a bunker before finishing with a nine. He followed that up with a par on No. 18 (par 4, 407 yards).

  “I told myself it’s not over,” said Williams. “I knew 1 over was still a good score.”

  His afternoon session wasn’t as adventurous.

  Williams, who started on the back nine, made the turn in 1-over-par 37 before registering a birdie on No. 1 (par 4, 402 yards). A bogey on No. 3 (par 4, 417 yards) negated his prior effort but he followed with a 5-iron to 12 feet on No. 5 (par 3, 185 yards) to get a stroke back. He then made a pair of fantastic two putts to save pars on Nos. 8 (par 4, 424 yards), from 35 feet, and 9 (par 3, 213 yards), from 45 feet.

  Williams heads to The Olympic Club in a different frame of mind after a frantic time at Oakmont CC in 2003 in his lone other U.S. Amateur appearance.

  “I learned not to switch anything,” said Williams. “Last time I went I switched my putter. I got there early for a practice round and had to play early the next day. I hit balls in between. I wore myself out.”

  Amory Davis, a member at DuPont CC, heads to his first U.S. Amateur in his initial try. Davis carded a 72 at Cedarbrook CC in the morning and a 73 at Meadowlands CC in the afternoon.

  “I would say I would have been disappointed if I didn’t make it,” said Davis, 18, who is headed to the University of Virginia this fall. “I’ve been hitting it well and my putting hasn’t been that bad.”

  Davis said he’s had putting woes this summer, resulting in a light competitive schedule to date. He’s only competed in three events so far this year.

  “I’ve just been playing with my friends more, trying not to think about it,” said Davis. “I’ve been trying to get my confidence back.”

  Brewington, 21, of Mill Race GC, will be making his first appearance; McGuinness 47, of Tavistock CC, heads to his sixth U.S. Amateur; Willcox, 19, of Philadelphia CC, made an eagle on the first playoff hole to advance to his second Amateur in his second attempt and Holle, 38, of Essex County CC, goes to his first.

  Founded in 1897, the Golf Association of Philadelphia (GAP) is the oldest regional golf association in the United States and serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. Its 135 Member Clubs and 60,000 individual members are spread across parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The purpose of the Association is simple: To promote, protect and preserve the game of golf in the region.