PARK CITY — After winning the Utah State Amateur a couple of weeks ago, Michael McRae took some time off from golf and caddied for his younger brother, Robert, in a couple of tournaments.
The layoff apparently didn't hurt McRae at all.
The 18-year-old took medalist honors Monday at the U.S. Amateur local qualifying tournament at Park Meadows Country Club with scores of 68 and 66 to earn one of two spots in next month's U.S. Amateur at Merion, Pa.
"Fortunately I was able to post a couple of good scores today,"said McRae, who went 10 days without playing a round. "In the first round you just want to play more conservative and give yourself a chance. In the second round it's time to finish strong."
The other local spot went to Sandy's Dustin Pimm, who defeated Eric Nilsson on the second hole of a playoff after both players finished at 137 with scores of 67 and 70. Pimm, who will be a sophomore at the University of Utah this fall, grabbed one of the two local U.S. Am spots for the second straight year.
"This was tougher than last year, but hopefully I'll be able to get some redemption," Pimm said. "Playing last year will help me a ton."
Pimm won the playoff by making a downhill 15-foot birdie after Nilsson had missed from 25 feet.
Even though they shot the same scores, their rounds couldn't have been more different.
Pimm played the par-5s 11-under par with three eagles and four birdies, but had seven bogeys in his two rounds. Meanwhile Nilsson, a 20-year-old from St. George who plays for Southern Utah, only played the par-5s even par, but only had two bogeys and one double on the day.
McRae had a consistent couple of rounds with just two bogeys on the day. He knew he was in good shape to qualify when he hit a 2-iron within four feet at the par-5 No. 5 hole (his 31st of the day) and made the putt for eagle to move to 10-under par.
McRae, who turns 19 in two weeks, is hoping he'll find the same magic another Utahn, Clay Ogden, found at the recent U.S. Public Links tournament, which he won and earned a berth in next year's Masters. Both the winner and runnerup of the U.S. Amateur earn berths in the Masters.
"Absolutely, Clay's a great player and seeing a Utah guy can do that, I believe in myself even more," McRae said. "(The Masters) is a goal of course, but it's one step at a time. I want to get into match play first."
Steve Irwin of Golden, Colo., the son of Champions Tour star Hale Irwin, finished as the second alternate at 140 after shooting the best18-hole score of the day, a 7-under-par 65 following a 75 in the morning. More than 60 amateurs competed at Park Meadows Monday.
The U.S. Amateur will be played Aug. 22-28 at Merion Golf Club inPennsylvania, the site of many major tournaments.
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