Stewart Hagestad is staying sharp as the Walker Cup approaches
(MGA photo)
DEAL, NJ (August 22, 2017) -
Stewart Hagestad's Walker Cup tuneup at the Metropolitan Open was a roller coaster but a strong finish should leave him in good spirits as he prepares for the big event at Los Angeles Country Club in just over two weeks' time.
Hagestad, who was named to the
U.S. Walker Cup team on Sunday, started strong in the professional event, shooting a first-round four-under 67 at Hollywood Golf Club to sit in solo second, one shot behind the leader Mark McCormick of Suburban Golf Club.
He went the wrong way in round two, scattering six bogeys across his first eleven holes, and needing a birdie at the last just to salvage a five-over 76. At that point he was practically out of contention, six shots back but just inside the top 20.
The final round didn't start much better, as Hagestad double-bogeyed the first hole. But then he started to find his form again, making five birdies in a nine hole stretch in the middle of his round, and though he bogeyed two holes coming in, he once again birdied the last for a two-under 69. He finished one under for the tournament and in a tie for 10th.
Last year's low amateur
Cameron Young (Sleepy Hollow Country Club) repeated the feat, finishing in a tie for fifth at three under 210. This time he was joined by the only other amateur to finish in the top ten,
James Nicholas (Westchester Country Club) who also finished at three under.
When asked about the realization of his dream to make the
Walker Cup team, Hagestad told the MGA, "It was a lofty and ambitious goal but it's a dream come true and it's something I've thought about literally every day for the last two years."
"Even in the offseason it was a motivating factor, whether it was to get to the gym, or to eat right, or to shoot whatever."
"To have the honor of being able to represent the United States, the USGA, the MGA, the Southern California Golf Association, and my home club [Hagestad is a member of Los Angeles Country Club]...is not only a dream come true but it's an honor that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life."
"I look forward to the next few weeks to put in the work and see if we can bring [the Walker Cup] back where it belongs."
DAY ONE REPORT
Just days after being named to the
U.S. Walker Cup team Stewart Hagestad fired a 4-under 67 to sit in second place at the Metropolitan Open hosted by Hollywood Golf Club.
After missing the cut at the U.S. Amateur last week, Hagestad rebounded on Tuesday with a six birdie, one double-bogey round.
Starting on the back nine, Hagestad birdied Nos. 10, 14 and 15 for a 3-under bogey-free side. On his second nine Hagestad got as low as 5-under with birdies on Nos. 3 and 5 before falling back to 4-under with a double-bogey on the 6th. The former USC golfer did bounce back with a birdie on the 8th before finishing his round with a par.
“I had a lot of good looks out there, and other than one hole it was pretty darn stress free,” Hagestad told the MGA. “I had a lot of good looks at birdie—converted a couple, missed a couple—but, anything in the 60s in the afternoon is a really good score.”
Hagestad will begin the second round one shot behind leader Mark McCormick who is 5-under. The top-five is rounded out by Daniel Balin, Max Buckley and amateurs Dawson Jones; 2015 Metropolitan Amateurs winner Peter Kim all whom are tied for third at 3-under.
2016 low amateur Cameron Young is currently tied for ninth at 1-under. Overall nine amateurs are currently 1-under or better.
Editors Note: The MGA contributed to this storyView results for MET Open
ABOUT THE
MET Open
Open to:
1. Past MGA Open Champions.
2. Male PGA Members in good standing in
the
Metropolitan or New Jersey sections. (A-3
members must have their principle place of
residence in the MGA district.)
3. Male professionals, employed at a golf
facility in the MGA District, who are
enrolled in
the PGA’s GPTP.
4. Male head & assistant professionals
at
MGA Member Clubs.
5. Male professionals who are bonafide
members with full golfing privileges at MGA
Member Clubs, have a residence in the
MGA
District and a current USGA Handicap
Index of
4.0 or less at that member club.
6. Amateur members & applicants for
Amateur
re-instatement at MGA Member Clubs with
a
current USGA Handicap Index at that club
of
4.0 or less.
7. Male amateur golfers, 21 & under, in
the
immediate family of the Head Professional,
Manager, & Superintendent at MGA
Member
Clubs with a current USGA Handicap Index
of
4.0 or less.
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