Acworth Golfer Struggles but Enjoys U.S. Amateur

After shooting a three-over 75 on Monday at Erin Hills, James White knew he’d have to go low in order to have a chance at making the cut for the U.S. Amateur match play.

Unfortunately tricky weather conditions and a tricky course proved too tough for the rising senior at Georgia Tech. White shot a one-over 71 at Blue Mound Country Club on Tuesday, finishing at 4-over for the tournament.

“I still struggled a little bit,” White said. “I hit a few more better shots than I did yesterday. I made some putts and missed some.”

Play was suspended for three hours before White even stepped on the course. Thunderstorms in the early morning forced players off the course around 8 a.m. Instead of teeing off at his scheduled 8:20 a.m. time slot, White got on the course closer to noon.

Starting on the back nine, White bogeyed the 488-yard, par-4 12^th hole, but rebounded with a birdie on the par-4 16^th to make the turn at even-par for the round. White recorded two birdies and two bogeys through the first eight holes of the front nine to keep at even-par on the day, but bogeyed the ninth to end his round at one shot over par.

“I was in the rough behind the trees on the last hole and finished with a bogey, which is not the greatest way to go out,” White said.

White said Blue Mound’s thick rough often resulted in bad lies and the plethora of trees didn’t allow for many clear shots to the green if you missed the fairway off the tee.

Still, White, who played at the U.S. Amateur in 2009, was glad to be out playing in the nation’s most prestigious amateur event.

“It didn’t really turn out as well as I would have liked, but I gave my best,” White said.