Acworth Golfer Faces Tough Competition at U.S. Amateur Championship

If every hole played as easily as the first at Erin Hills Golf Course did for James White, the Acworth native would have been looking at plenty of low numbers.

White made a birdie four on the par-5 first hole, but failed to add another, falling to 3-over par 75 in Monday’s first round of the U.S. Amateur in Erin, WI.

“The highlight of the day was clearly the birdie on one,” White said. “But it seemed like I couldn’t hit a fairway on the after that.”

Consecutive bogeys on Nos. 7 and 8 pushed White to a 38 on the front nine. Despite cleaning up his driver on the back side, more birdies failed to materialize.

“I hit the ball a little better on the back, but I had some awkward numbers with clubs and ended up in a lot of wrong spots,” White said.

Though the Georgia Tech senior-to-be struggled on the first day, friend and playing partner Blayne Barber had little trouble with the 7,760-yard links. Barber carded the afternoon’s low round, a 4-under 68, to hold a share of fourth place.

“Blayne’s a good friend of mine and I’m really happy for him,” White said of Barber’s round. “But obviously I wish I could have shot that score instead.” 

The change of pace in Tuesday’s second round should favor White as he takes on the more classic Blue Mound Country Club. The course reminds him a lot of his home golf course in the Atlanta area.

“My dad played golf at Clemson, and after that our family moved to Atlanta,” said White of his childhood golfing memories. “And from that point I basically had a course in my backyard.”

After his opening 75, White will need a low number to reach head-to-head play as the field is cut to the top 64 golfers for the match play competition which begins Wednesday on Erin Hills. The single elimination tournament concludes on Sunday with a 36-hole championship match.