Franklin Regional alum Palmer Jackson eyes spot in U.S. Amateur

“This close,” Palmer Jackson points out, pinching his index finger and thumb together like he’s holding a SIM card.

“I was this close to (automatically qualifying for the U.S. Amateur), but I just missed,” Jackson said of previous summers. “Looking back, I realized I was close a few times.”

The top 50 players in the world amateur rankings qualify for the U.S. Amateur. Jackson currently is 110th.

A rising junior at Notre Dame and a Franklin Regional alum, Jackson wants another shot at the U.S. Amateur, especially since he knows the ins and outs of the event. He has played in three previous U.S. Amateurs — 2018 at Pebble Beach, ‘19 at Pinehurst and ‘20 at Bandon Dunes (Ore.).

He made a memorable run to the quarterfinals in ‘19.

Jackson, a member at Hannastown Golf Club, had to qualify two times and was exempt the other.

“Qualifiers build a lot of confidence for me,” he said.

This year’s U.S. Amateur carries greater significance because it will be played at Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club in Verona on Aug. 9-15.

“It would be nice to be exempt but there is something about qualifying I really like,” he said. “You take one round at a time. I am so focused on qualifying.”

He will attempt to qualify Tuesday and Wednesday at Sunnehanna Country Club. He recently finished fourth at the Sunnehanna Amateur, which bodes well for his course knowledge. If a course fits Jackson’s eye, watch out.

He likes Oakmont a lot, too.

“To win (at Oakmont) would be a dream come true,” Jackson said. “It’s a great time for me. I’m 20 years old, and I know I can only play better. Whether I peak at Oakmont, who knows? I just want to get in and see what I can do because I have played that place so much.”

Jackson was the low amateur at the Frank B. Fuhrer Jr. Invitational last week at Pittsburgh Field Club when he posted rounds of 71, 68, 73 and 68 for a four-round total of even-par 280. He was three behind winner Chase Koepka and Patrick Flavin, who tied at 3-under before Koepka won in a playoff.

Jackson continues to prove he belongs in the better events. He already has played on the national stage several times, including this year’s U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship (with college teammate Davis Chatfield) in Wisconsin. The duo reached the semifinals.

“I wanted to be low amateur, yes, but I also wanted to win,” Jackson said of the Fuhrer. “It would have been nice to do both. It was nice to play well against so many great players.”

For as much golf as Jackson has played in his short lifetime, and it’s a lot, he continues to learn.

“I have learned a lot, but I learn more every (competitive round) I play,” he said. “You watch these other guys compete and pick up little things. I am always trying to improve and find an edge.”

Jackson keeps a jam-packed schedule during the summer months. This year is no different.

After the Amateur qualifier, he plans to play in the Southern Amateur in Mississippi, the West Penn Open at Westmoreland Country Club in Export and the Western Amateur in Illinois.