Mark Goetz could not have drawn up a better first round at the 121st United States Golf Association’s Amateur Championship.
It was nearly flawless.
The Greensburg native and West Virginia University senior shot a 6-under-par 64 on Monday at Longue Vue Club. His round consisted of four birdies and an eagle on No. 4, where he reached the green in two and sank a five-foot putt.
Goetz is one of 11 players from Western Pennsylvania playing in the tournament and one of four members from Hannastown Golf Club near Greensburg. The other Hannastown members are Sean Knapp, Palmer Jackson and Jimmy Meyers.
There are 312 golfers in the field trying to reach match play, which begins Wednesday. The low 64 will qualify for match play.
Goetz is a shot behind Clemson junior Jacob Bridgeman, who tied the scoring record by shooting a 7-under 63, which also is held by former Oakmont pro Bob Ford and Nathan Sutherland.
“This place is really good,” Goetz said. “The greens were fast and firm. This is a championship-style golf course, and I played great.”
Goetz said getting used to a new driver after one cracked on him a few weeks back was the key.
“My round speaks on how well I’m driving it right now,” Goetz said. “It took me awhile until I felt comfortable. I started well by hitting the first two fairways.
“This driver is not perfect, but it’s really close. My boss (Joe Corsi) and I have done a pretty good job getting something back in my hands quickly and efficiently. It’s pretty good, and I’m starting to get comfortable with it.”
Goetz described some of his shots as low-bullet fades.
“I was able to make a lot of putts,” Goetz said.
On Tuesday, he heads to Oakmont Country Club, which he called his favorite course. He will have to face the challenges the other half of the field faced Monday.
All the top scores were shot by morning golfers at Longue Vue. That group will tee off at Oakmont in the afternoon.
“I played in a practice round over the weekend, and it’s the real deal,” Goetz said. “It’s going to be hard to hold some of those fairways. I’m not going to change my strategy for Oakmont. You have to just go and play.”
Goetz has played well this summer. He tied for second in the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Open and the Pennsylvania Golf Association’s Amateur, losing both times when the winner chipped in on the final hole.
He was WVU’s first NCAA Division I All-American. He has one year remaining before he graduates.
