08-14-2023, 08:53 AM
(08-13-2023, 09:17 PM)bl82 Wrote:(08-13-2023, 08:37 PM)Spiny_Norman Wrote: Stanford will be well represented in the US Amateur that begins tomorrow at Cherry Hills in Denver. 312 players are looking to be among the low 64 that will qualify for match play after 36 holes of stroke play qualifying.
Among those 312 players are 5 with a Stanford affiliation:
- Current players Barclay Brown, Karl Vilips and Alex Yang. Michael Thorbjornsen, the #2 amateur in the world, will not be in the field. He has a stress fracture in his back. He will also miss the Walker Cup at St. Andrews.
- Alum Henry Shimp who was on the 2019 national championship team
- Alum Jack Barber who was a former top 10 recruit in tennis whose Stanford tennis career was hampered by 3 wrist surgeries. While working on his M.A. in sustainability and business in 2020, he found he could swing a golf club without pain. Now he has qualified for the US Amateur.
Ouch. Is there some sort a timetable for Thorbjornsen to return? On the plus side, great story on Barber.
Thorbjornsen estimates returning to action this fall. On Instagram he said, "I’m disappointed to share that I am unable to compete in next week’s US Amateur and upcoming Walker Cup due to a stress fracture in my back. My medical team has recommended a period of inactivity for the fracture to heal properly. While the timing is unfortunate, I anticipate being back to full health this fall. I’ve given it my all this summer and made some great memories. It hurts missing our national amateur championship and not representing Team USA at St. Andrews, but I’m very grateful to the USGA for the honor and their support. I can’t wait to get back with my teammates at Stanford and back on the course as soon as possible."
"We have an unwritten rule around here not to do anything stupid."
-Casey Jacobsen, Feb 3, 2000