Top local golfers survive test of nerves to qualify for U.S. Amateur at Oakmont

JOHNSTOWN — Yes, it was nerve-racking for some of the golfers Wednesday at Sunnehanna Country Club participating in the U.S. Amateur qualifier.

There was more pressure than usual because there were only five spots available for the prestigious tournament, which will be played at historic Oakmont Country Club from Aug. 9-15.

The first two rounds to determine the match-play field will be held at Oakmont and Longue Vue Country Clubs. Match play will be at Oakmont, site of more combined PGA and USGA championships than any course in the country.

That includes nine U.S. Opens, five U.S. Amateurs, three PGA Championships and two U.S. Women’s Opens.

Oakmont native Sean Knapp, 59, watched intently from the practice green as players played the final hole trying to secure one of those spots.

After learning he was in, Knapp exhaled. So did Central Catholic grad and Penn State golfer Jim Meyers, who, like Knapp, watched from under a nearby pine tree as players finished.

“Now I can talk,” Knapp said, who earned the final spot with a 1-under-par 139.

“It means everything, qualifying. When I won (the U.S. Senior Amateur) in 2017, it’s like winning the national championship.”

Knapp lives two blocks from Oakmont Country Club.

Knapp, Meyers (2-under), Greensburg’s Mark Goetz (2-under) and Murrysville’s Palmer Jackson, the medalist at 3-under, are all members of Hannastown Golf Club in Greensburg.

Jackson, Goetz and Knapp all qualified for the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst in 2019. Jackson reached the quarterfinals.

The fifth qualifier was 2008 North Allegheny grad Grant Martens, who works for Titleist and lives in San Diego. He also finished 2-under.

“I guess I’ll have to get another flight back home,” Martens said. “When I saw where the U.S. Amateur was being held, I knew I had to try to qualify. Oakmont is a great venue, and I can’t wait to play there.”

Martens had a chance to tie Jackson with a par on the final hole, but his putt slid by.

Jackson, who attends Notre Dame, played a conservative final round. He had the lead and had a few shots on the field, so he played smart.

“This was the most pressure I felt in a long time,” Jackson said. “Having a chance to compete at Oakmont for the U.S. Amateur is pretty special, and to have three other guys from Hannastown is awesome.”

Jackson began the final round a shot behind Erik Bertrand. But Bertrand struggled early and Jackson took the lead and maintained it the rest of the way. Bertrand did earn the first alternate spot when he defeated Jay Whitby of Wyoming, Del., in a playoff after a lengthy weather delay.

Knapp and Goetz embraced after Goetz finished his round. He thanked Knapp for his support and wisdom.

Goetz was down on himself after a round on July 4, and Knapp had a talk with him.

“It’s pretty special,” Goetz said. “Knapper has been playing really well and Palmer too. It’s really cool.

“Playing in a USGA event is really pretty special, but making it to Oakmont … when I heard Oakmont had the bid, I circled this on the calendar. It’s my favorite golf course on the planet, and there is no truer test of golf. This was big.”

Meyers said he played well under tough conditions, but he still was nervous.

“I felt I was in good position, but there were still a lot of good golfers on the course,” Myers said. “I told my dad my sole goal for the summer was to play in the Amateur.”

Now that the five have qualified, they can start focusing on playing in the tournament. Sunnehanna sure tested their mettle.