Area players miss on U.S. Amateur qualifying

No area players advanced from the four Florida qualifying sites for entry into this year's United States Amateur, which took place across the state in the past week.

Chris Kennedy came the closest.

The Cardinal Mooney alum and Lakewood Ranch resident fired a final round 71, but his first-round 75 left him with a 146 total and two shots out of the final qualifying berth.

Kennedy played his qualifier at Cypress Run Golf Club in Tarpon Springs, and only two berths were up for grabs. Players finishing at 145 had a playoff for the first and second alternate spots.

The U.S. Amateur has sort of called Bradenton home the past two years, as Ben An and Peter Uihlein once lived here.

An won the title in 2009 and Uihlein triumphed in 2010.

Pan falls back; Grillo and Kennedy charge at Southern Amateur

Cheng-Tsung Pan shot his second consecutive 73 to fall seven shots off the lead at the 105th Southern Amateur on Friday.

The IMG alum and University of Washington rising sophomore had a share of the first-round lead following a 67 on the famed par-71 Copperhead Course at Palm Harbor's Innisbrook Resort.

While Pan slipped into a tie for 14th, Emiliano Grillo and Chris Kennedy improved on their first two rounds.

Grillo fired a 3-under par 68 in the third round. Kennedy, a Cardinal Mooney alum and Lakewood Ranch resident, posted a 70.

Grillo attends IMG Academies just like Nick Torrance.

Unlike Grillo, however, Torrance backed up on day three. So did Ben An, the 2009 U.S. Amateur champ.

Both players sit near the bottom of the pack following a 78 and 75, respectively.

Chris Kennedy qualifies for Southern Amateur

Chris Kennedy hits a shot during a recent West Florida Golf Tour event. Photo by Tiffany Tompkins-Condie/Bradenton Herald.

Lakewood Ranch resident Chris Kennedy's red-hot form is still intact.

The Cardinal Mooney alum, who is wrapping up an internship at Laurel Oak Country Club in Sarasota to complete his degree requirements at the University of North Florida, made it through the on-site qualifier on Monday at Innisbrook's famed Copperhead Course for a berth into the 105th Southern Amateur.

The tournament kicks off Wednesday and several Manatee County players are in the field, including 2009 U.S. Amateur champ Ben An and University of Florida departing senior Bank Vongvanij.

Kennedy qualified after firing a 1-over par 72.

The two-time City of Sarasota Amateur champ said he's had trouble finishing rounds off in today's edition of the Bradenton Herald.

But after a bogey on No. 10, Kennedy parred his way into the clubhouse and a spot into Wednesday's first round.

To read more about Kennedy's super summer, check out today's Herald.

Bradenton's Scott Lamb and Nick Torrance got shut out after both carded 2-over par 73s.

That netted both a spot in a 5-for-3 playoff, as only seven spots were awarded from the qualifier.

But, neither progressed.

Peter Uihlein named semifinalist for Ben Hogan Award

Peter Uihlein at last week's Masters. Provided by McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

Peter Uihlein's career keeps getting better.

If playing in his first Masters wasn't enough, the former Pendleton School at IMG Academies standout was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Ben Hogan Award on Wednesday.

The award is given annually to the best college golfer.

Uihlein, an Oklahoma State University junior, had a banner year in 2010 after winning the United States Amateur.

The triumph was the second straight for former Bradenton residents following Ben An's victory in 2009.

Uihlein isn't the lone Cowboy on the short list for the award, which will be presented to the winner on May 16 in conjunction with the Hogan-associated PGA Tour event held at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Two other Oklahoma State players are semifinalists. PGA Tour sensation Rickie Fowler was the last winner from Oklahoma State, taking the award in 2008.

Uihlein missed the cut in the Masters after an even-par 72 in the first round. He also played in the Transitions Championship - the lone PGA Tour stop on Florida's west coast. Uihlein made the cut there.

An dethroned at U.S. Amateur

Ben An just couldn't put away David Chung.

The Bradenton golfer from Korea was 3-up on Chung nine holes to play in the semifinals of the 110th U.S. Amateur at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.

An, who won the tournament last year, played his final nine Saturday in the equivalent of 4-over par, while Chung birdied three holes in his comeback.

However, there is still a chance that someone with Bradenton ties could walk off with the U.S. Amateur trophy in tow after Sunday's 36-hole final.

That's because former IMG Academies golfer Peter Uihlein advanced in his semifinal.

Uihlein, whose father is the CEO of Titleist, breezed to a 4-and-3 victory over Patrick Cantlay.

The finals on the course measuring over 7,700 yards begin Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m. local time.

An moves into the semifinals

Bradenton's Ben An has earned a semifinal berth after a hard-fought quarterfinal match in the 110th U.S. Amateur at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.

An won the tournament last year, which gave him exemptions into the U.S. and British opens, and an invitation into The Masters.

He missed the cut in all three majors, but the experience in those tournaments and couple other PGA Tour stops has the incoming University of Cal-Berkeley freshman primed for a return trip golf's elite venues in 2011.

However, An would need to repeat this week. He battled his soon-to-be college teammate to a 1-up victory that took all 18 holes to complete. It was the first time since match play began that An has been forced to No. 18.

His previous three matches ended early.

An never trailed in the match, and it was just the second time he played No. 18 - having played the hole during stroke play qualification.

He faces Fayetteville, N.C. golfer David Chung in Saturday's first semifinal.

The match is scheduled for an 8:30 a.m. local time.

Defending champ An into quarters

Ben An, the reigning U.S. Amateur champ, won two matches Thursday in the 110th U.S. Amateur at the Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.

An enters the fall as a freshman at the University of Cal-Berkeley, after moving from his native South Korea to Bradenton to hone his game.

An defeated Alex Shi Yup Kim, of Fullerton, Calif., 4 and 3 in the round of 32.

He then beat Scott Strohmeyer from Tuscaloosa, Ala. 3 and 2 to advance to today's quarterfinals.

An into round of 32 at U.S. Amateur

Ben An is heading to the second round in defense of his U.S. Amateur title.

The Bradenton golfer is attending the University of Cal-Berkeley this fall as a freshman, but he's at University Place, Wash. for the site of this year's national amateur.

An dispatched David Dannelly of Clemson, S.C. 3 and 2 in a round of 64 match Wednesday at the Chambers Bay Golf Course.

An shot the equivalent of 2-under before ending the match on the 16th hole.

An looks likely for match play; Mullhaupt likely to miss cut

Bradenton's Ben An is heading to the University Cal-Berkeley for his college golf this fall, but before he hits the classroom, he's defending his U.S. Amateur title at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.

An started strong in Monday's opening round when he fired a 2-under 70 on The Home Course. However, he backed up on the Chambers Bay Golf Course in his second round with a 77, but that right now looks likely to advance An to the match play portion of the tournament.

Only the top 64 make up a the single-elimination field and fellow Bradenton golfer Nicholas Mullhaupt shot 157 for the two-day stroke play portion.

That number won't be good enough as Mullhaupt sits in a tie for 208th as of late Tuesday.

The tournament's match play begins Wednesday and finishes with Sunday's final.

An starts title defense strong; Mullhaupt slow out of the gate

Bradenton's Ben An got off to a good start in defense of his U.S. Amateur title.

An carded a 2-under 70 in Monday's first round at The Home Course in Chambers Bay, Wash.

An, a native South Korean, relocated to Bradenton to work on his game.

Last year he won the U.S. Amateur and received invitations to PGA Tour events including The Masters. He also played in the U.S. and British opens.

Despite missing the cut in all three majors he played this year, the experience is sure to give An a boost down the road, which includes his college game beginning this year at the University of Cal-Berkeley.

An had six birdies to offset four bogeys that gave him a spot in the top ten with many players still on The Home Course and Chambers Bay Golf Course.

Meanwhile, Bradenton's Nicholas Mullhaupt finished at 3-over, 75. He played The Home Course for his opening round, too.

Mullhaupt's 75 leaves him in a bit of a hole - tied for 111th as of late afternoon on Monday.

Following the second round of stroke play Tuesday, the field will cut down to match play for the remainder of the tournament.

An's tee time set for Open

Ben An, the reigning United States Amateur champion, will tee off in his third major this year as part of the spoils that go with winning the national amateur championship.

He missed the cut at The Masters and the U.S. Open.

Each major presents various hurdles to overcome and the British Open is no different.

The venue, The Old Course at St. Andrews, features too many pot bunkers to count - each one with its own name.

Add in Mother Nature (rain and wind) and the winner will be a golfer who not only performs well on the links-styled course, but one who can battle the elements the best.

An will seek his first made cut in his final major for 2010 - amateurs are not allowed entry into the PGA Championship.

He'll tee it up with 1998 Open champ Mark O'Meara and Stephen Gallacher for the first two rounds.

Thursday's tee time is 5:15 a.m. EST and 10:21 a.m. EST on Friday.

An and Hampshire miss cut at Open

Ben An and Travis Hampshire both missed the cut at the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links following second-round play in the 110th United States Open.

An, a Bradenton resident, carded a 4-over par, 75 on Day Two.

Hampshire, who is No. 2 on the local West Florida Golf Tour's Order of Merit, shot 77 Friday.

Both players missed their chance to continue on the weekend, which players 7-over par or better qualified for.

For An, the reigning U.S. Amateur champ, the result is his second missed cut in major championships this year.

The perks of winning the national amateur title meant An earned an invite to The Masters and automatic exemptions into both U.S. and British opens.

For Hampshire, a mini-tour professional, he earned qualification through the grueling local and sectional stages before exiting without a payday in his trip to California's crown jewel of golf courses.

An and Hampshire soar in Open first round

Bradenton's Ben An didn't jump to the top of the United States Open leaderboard after the first round.

Neither did Tampa's Travis Hampshire, who plies his trade on the local West Florida Golf Tour.

An, the reigning U.S. Amateur champ, carded an 8-over par, 79.

Hampshire soared higher, posting a 10-over par, 81.

Both players hit the same exact number of greens - 7 of 18.

And both were fairly accurate off the tee, which is a major bonus in the "toughest test in golf" where the rough seems to grow longer than a jungle.

An hit 8 of 14 fairways. Hampshire found the short grass 10 of 14 times.

They combined for 59 putts (An had 30).

Yet both struggled in getting acclimated to Pebble Beach.

The 110th U.S. Open continues today, and both players will need stellar second rounds to make the weekend.

And in Hampshire's case, a payday as the WFGT player is a professional.

Tradition kept with An's pairing

Bradenton's Ben An is scheduled to play his first two rounds of the United States Open just like all the previous U.S. Amateur champs have, by teeing it up with the reigning British Open champ and the defending U.S. Open champ.

An, an amateur bound for the University of California-Berkley next fall, is being paired with Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover when the second major of the year kicks off Thursday at the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links.

An will tee off No. 1 at 8:17 a.m. for round one and off No. 10 at 1:47 p.m. on Friday.

While An is the lone Bradenton golfer in the field, West Florida Golf Tour regular Travis Hampshire of Tampa is also playing.

An received an exemption due to his triumph at the U.S. Amateur last year, and Hampshire gained his entry through the rigorous qualifying stages.

Hampshire won a spot at the lone Florida sectional, held at McArthur Golf Club in Hobe Sound.

He's hovered around the top of the WFGT's Order of Merit standings during the tour's inaugural season this year based off a couple victories and high finishes in other tournaments.

Now he'll play in the U.S. Open with fellow professional Dan McCarthy and amateur Joseph Bramlett in the first two rounds.

He'll tee off No. 10 at 9:12 a.m. Thursday, and off No. 1 at 2:42 p.m. Friday.

An makes first PGA Tour cut

Byeong-Hun (Ben) An made his first PGA Tour cut Friday in the Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island.

An followed his opening round of 69 with a 1-under par, 70 to finish in a tie for 33rd.

But it could have been much better for the Bradenton Prep senior.

An, the reigning United States Amateur champion, got as close as one shot off the lead, when he birdied the par-4 sixth.

That put An, who started his second round on the back nine, at 6-under par for the tournament, one off the pace.

However, An faltered in his final three holes, playing them in three-over.

An bogeyed No. 7 before a double on the ninth.

Despite the setback, An will play the weekend for the first time, since earning PGA Tour exemptions based off the U.S. Amateur victory.

He did it with steady putting, which plagued An in both previous Tour events - the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Masters.

An had 26 putts in round one, and backed that up with 29 putts in round two, which ranked him tied for 43rd through the first 36 holes.

However, those were still markedly improved numbers with the flatstick then his first ventures on the Tour.

An had an eagle and four birdies, while hitting 72 percent of greens in regulation during his second round to ensure making the cut.

So while An's tee time on Saturday is a bit earlier than he might have liked, given how low he had gotten, the 18-year-old doesn't have to start at the crack of dawn.

He'll play with Marc Leishman, as the pair tee off at 10:35 a.m.

Ben An scores well at Verizon Heritage

Byeong-hun (Ben) An's first round at this week's PGA Tour stop in South Carolina was good enough to put the Bradenton Prep senior into a tie for 28th.

An carded a 2-under par, 69 at the Verizon Heritage Classic on Thursday.

It was the first time, An has cracked 70 on the PGA Tour, since making his debut two weeks before The Masters at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.

An's ability to score well came off a quality day with the putter, as he needed just 26 putts during his opening round in the 72-hole event.

An had three birdies and an eagle to offset three bogeys.

He'll try to make his first PGA Tour cut, when he tees off Friday off No. 10 at Harbour Town Golf Links at 1:40 p.m.