Vrzich, Dupree Earn U.S. Amateur Spots at Legacy GC
Hayes Dupree and Joey Vrzich were as hot as the 100-degree temperature in earning the two qualifying spots up for grabs in the 2018 U.S. Amateur in the two-day qualifier played at Legacy Golf Club on July 16-17, 2018. Caden Hamill and Las Vegas’ Ed Fryatt earned alternate status. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
The 2018 U.S. Amateur will be played Aug. 13-19, 2018, at prestigious Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill.
Dupree finished at –8 (rounds of 66 and 70) and posted a 1-shot victory over Vrzich who carded rounds of 69 and 68.
Dupree was out of the top two spots with three holes remaining but finished birdie-eagle-par to wind up medalist.
“I was kind of slapping it around but I hit a great shot into 16 (a par-4) and made the birdie after bogeying 15,” said the 24-year-old employee of El Rio Golf Course in Mojave, Ariz. “Then I hit it a long way down on 17 (a par-5) and hit a great 4-iron and made the putt for eagle.”
Now it’s on to the U.S. Amateur. “I tried to qualify last year but just missed it,” the former Georgia Southwestern golfer said. “Now I guess I’m going to have to ask for a little more time off from work. But, I think they will understand.”
In finishing runnerup, Vrzich, a sophomore-to-be at UNR, earned his second straight trip to the U.S. Amateur.
“I finished birdie-birdie and that was big,” said the 19-year-old from San Diego. “I had two three-putts on the back and knew I had to finish strong.”
He did just that. “I birdied 17 and then played 18 really well,” he said. “On that hole you have to hit the fairway and I did. Then I hit it to about a foot and made the putt. I’ll take those type of birdie putts all day.”
