Leow and Jones Stay Afloat at US Mid-Amateur

Wisconsin, United States: Singaporean James Leow and New Zealand’s Sam Jones had cause to celebrate on Tuesday at the weather-hit 41st US Mid-Amateur Championship.

Jones posted a two-day total of seven-under-par 134 to earn co-medallist honours with American Jake Shuman.

For his part, Leow finished on 139 to comfortably qualify for the match play segment. In one of only six Round-of-64 matches to be completed, Leow, a recent Arizona State graduate, comprehensively defeated American John Humphries 7 and 6.

The 25-year-old Leow got a late start to his college career because he served nearly two years in the military, mandatory for all males in Singapore. He didn’t arrive in Tempe until he turned 21, and he missed his junior season at ASU due to labrum surgery.

After this week’s event, Leow is scheduled to compete in Stage 1 of Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School at Southern Dunes in Arizona. He plans to turn professional after the final stage of Q-School (November 4-8), provided he gets there.

Jones did not even get to start his match play quest. His contest against American Christian Raynor will begin early on Wednesday

Given Sunday’s storm and the loss of nearly half a day on Monday due to course clean-up, the national championship for golfers 25 and older is now playing catch-up.

On Tuesday, weather-delayed round two was completed at noon at Erin Hills and stroke play co-host Blue Mound Golf & Country Club, with the cut for match play coming at three-over-par 144.

Two hours later, the first Round-of-64 match began at Erin Hills, while the 17-for-12 play-off for the final spots in the draw commenced on number 10 hole at 1:30 pm.

Golf was suspended due to darkness at 6:55 pm, with only six players having advanced to the Round of 32 and 26 matches undecided. The Round of 64 was scheduled to resume at 7:15 am local time on Wednesday.

Among the notables who failed to qualify for match play were Australian Lukas Michel, the 2019 champion.

Like Jones, Michel will be in the starting line-up for next month’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Thailand.