The finest amateurs in the world gather in Pennsylvania next week (August 9-16) and in the field will be at least five British players hoping to emulate the likes of Matt Fitzpatrick and Richie Ramsey and win the US Amateur Championship. In terms of the quality of the field, it doesn’t get any tougher and just for good measure this year’s event takes place at the legendary Oakmont. Editor Mark Flanagan caught up with Surrey’s Enrique Dimayuga, who made it through qualifying in Florida, as he prepared for the biggest week of his life.
The great Sam Snead once quipped that he marked his ball at Oakmont and his coin slid off the green.
The good news for the 312 competitors in this year’s US Amateur Championship is they get a day off from the legendary venue, which is just about the hardest place on the planet to try and make a score.
With tight fairways, thick rough and greens that can make even the best players in the world look like 20 handicappers, Oakmont rightly holds a special place in the hearts and minds of golf fans all over the world. Expect one or two scores in the 90s next week.
The other venue being used is the Longue Vue Club and, although it doesn’t have the global notoriety of its near neighbour in South West Pennsylvania, it is a truly remarkable course in its own right. Perched on cliffs above the Allegheny River near Pittsburgh, it is one of most visually impactful tracks you could ever wish to play.
Together they make quite a pair and one man trying to work out just how to plot his way to glory is Enrique Dimayuga (pictured above). The 20-year-old from Walton Heath is just about to start his third year at Florida Atlantic University and has decided to stay in the USA this summer and tackle what’s he considers to be tougher events.
Last summer he did come home and put together a series of impressive finishes culminating in a sixth place at the Brabazon. He was in the final group for the fourth round but a cracked driver head meant he had to hit iron off every tee and a closing 75 saw him finish three shots back.
“I was playing with Sam Bairstow and Christoffer Bring and they were blasting it off the tee with driver and I was having to keep using a four iron,” said Enrique. “I could hear all the whispers from those watching wondering when I was going to take my head cover off.”
The field at year’s Brabazon will be pretty good but Covid has largely kept the best European players away while in the States many of the best non-USA stars have just added to strength of the collegiate/amateur circuit.
It has meant qualifying for the US Amateur from one of 94 regional events has been tougher than ever but Enrique made light of that at Lago Mar Country Club in Florida last month as he finished five shots clear of the rest thanks to a stunning second-round 65, which included a run of five straight birdies between the fifth and tenth.
He added: “I did consider trying to qualifying outside of Florida because the fields are so strong here but it proved to be a good decision in the end.”
With the top three making it through he will be joined in next week’s showpiece by fellow Florida-based Englishman Joseph Padgin, who was lucky enough to receive a special exemption from the USGA. Sandy Scott (Nairn) and Alex Fitzpatrick (Hallamshire) are in the world’s top 50 so make it, as does fellow 2019 Walker Cup player Conor Gough (Stoke Park).
Like the British Amateur, the top 64 make it into the matchplay stages and then it’s man v man but, with it being Oakmont, you just can’t escape the venue for too long.
The Brits the 2021 US Amateur Championship (as of August 3rd, 2021):
• Enrique Dimayuga (Lago Mar Country Club qualifier, July 12-13)
• Alex Fitzpatrick (Playing member of 2019 and 2021 GB&I Walker Cup Teams; Top 50 points leader in World Amateur Golf Ranking as of June 23)
• Conor Gough (Playing member of 2019 GB&I Walker Cup Team)
• Joseph Pagdin (Special Exemption from the USGA)
• Sandy Scott (2020 U.S. Open competitor; Playing member of 2019 GB&I Walker Cup team; Top 50 points leader in World Amateur Golf Ranking as of June 23)
Enrique has never played the legendary 7,254-yard, par 70 test. The place where Johnny Miller somehow shot 63 and where so many US Open dreams have died.
“I have a friend who is a member there,” said Enrique. “It is as hard as you make it and is one of those courses – if you are playing badly – that is absolute hell.
“I’m a bit of a golf geek and love the history of the course – Miller shooting 63 there and all that – and when I get there I know it is going to feel special. The USGA will make it a special event and make it a special week.
“The fairways don’t look very wide (they are usually between 25 and 32 yards across) and the greens are the stuff of legend.
“It will be set up like it is at a US Open. In fact when they held the US Amateur at Pinehurst it was tougher than it was when Kaymer won the US Open there.
“Preparation wise I will try and get as much help as possible.”
Enrique was due be helped by his college team-mate Davis Lamb. The American, who reached the last 16 of the competition last year when it was won by Walker Cup star Ty Strafaci, was was due to caddy for him until he rolled an ankle. An Oakmont caddy will hopefully provide plenty of local knowledge.
Oakmont last staged the US Amateur in 2003 when it was won by the Aussie Nick Flanagan, whose victory heralded a golden period for overseas winners. The likes of Edoardo Molinari (2005), Ramsey (2006), Danny Lee (2008), Ben An (2009) and Fitzpatrick (2013) followed and in 2018 Victor Hovland carried off the title at Pebble Beach.
So what about his chances of following in their footsteps?
“I am feeling good, “ said Enrique. “I’ve got a week and a half to prepare for it and I have played in a lot of amateur events in the USA this summer and played well.
“I really think more British players should come over because the standard of mid-level events is the same as elite-level in the UK.”
The standard will never be higher than it is for the US Amateur next week. Even with all the Covid issues, some competitions are just too special. Nearly 8,000 players tried to get into it and on Monday, August 16 one of them will join Tiger Woods, Phil Mickleson and Jack Nicklaus in winning a competition that’s status ensures they will cement their place in golfing folklore.