Foley expecting tough test in US Mid-Amateur as he joins McClean in matchplay stages
Hugh Foley jumps up to get a better view of the flag before hitting his second shot on hole two during the second round of stroke play at the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis. on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022. (Steven Gibbons/USGA)
Hugh Foley and Matthew McClean cruised into the matchplay stages of the weather-disrupted US Mid-Amateur Championship in Wisconsin.
Reigning North of Ireland and South of Ireland champion Foley followed a four-under 66 at Blue Mound Golf & Country Club with a one-under 70 at Erin Hills to qualify in a tie for fourth place, just two strokes behind American Jake Shuman and New Zealander Sam Jones on five-under-par.
Malone’s Matthew McClean was tied sixth on three-under after he followed his opening 72 at Blue Mound with a five-under 66 at Erin Hills as the strokeplay qualifying rounds took four days rather than two to complete due to heavy rain.
“Great,” Foley said when asked how it felt to make the 64 qualifiers. “It was four days for the two rounds and some uncomfortable waits but I am glad to get it done.”
As for Erin Hills as a matchplay course, he admitted it was tighter than he had imagined and is prepared for that challenge now.
“It’s not as open as I thought it would be,” he said. “Driving is at a premium I think, so whether, that’s your driver going straight, or a 3-wood or an iron, you need to be in the fairway.
“Even though it’s long, fairways are a premium. It’s good with slopey greens. I don’t think there will be crazy low scores so matches could be won with 1- or 2-under.”
Having followed his wins in the North and South with a 20th hole defeat in the final of the Irish Amateur Close, Foley was happy to complete the trip to Wisconsin he’d arranged with fellow Irish team mate McClean.
“I had a feeling that a lot of guys would be good players but not maybe ranked,” he said. “I had a feeling it was going to be stronger that what the world ranking would suggest. I think that was right. I have met a lot of guys who were ex-pros, turned-back amateurs or who played great college golf.
“I was definitely nervous playing but Matthew McClean and I saw that there was an exemption to get straight in. It would’ve been harder to come and qualify but because (of the exemption) we could plan ahead and just play the full event. We just went for it.”
He’s won a strokeplay and a matchplay title this year and knows what he has to do well to make a run at the title that comes with an invitation to the Masters.
“In matchplay putting is the most intimidating factor,” he said. “You can get up on your opponent if you are putting well. These greens are big and slopey so getting the pace right is important.”
He’s certainly no slouch at matchplay after his championship and Home Internationals experiences over the past few years.
“We have six major championships in Ireland and I think three of them are match play this year, so I have played a lot of matches,” he said of the South of Ireland, West of Ireland and Irish Close Championships. “I have had a lot of experience; we do team events as well. I must have played upwards of 20 matches this year.”
The championship was scheduled to finish on Friday but will mostly likely not conclude until midday local time on Saturday.
Foley was all square with American Alex Turner after two holes while McClean was two-up after four against Christopher Anderson.
In college golf, Lauren Walsh is tied for second in the Annika Intercollegiate in Minnesota, six shots behind Amanda Sambach with Beth Coulter T17 and Anna Foster T31 after two rounds.
