PINEHURST, N.C. – Palmer Jackson of Notre Dame men’s golf ended his impressive run at the U.S. Amateur in Friday’s quarterfinal round, as Vanderbilt’s John Augenstein took the match three-up.
Jackson recorded the best run at the U.S. Amateur by a Notre Dame golfer in over 79 years, tying Tom Veech’s run to the quarters back in 1950.
After tying the first two holes, Jackson conceded the next three to Augenstein and found himself in a major hole. Yet, the incoming freshman rallied by winning the eighth and ninth holes to cut the deficit to one heading to the back-nine.
Palmer had his chances over the next couple of holes but just couldn’t find the putt for the equalizer. Thus, Jackson stayed one-down to Augenstein over holes 10-14. Unfortunately, over the next two holes, Augustein parred while Jackson bogeyed, ending the match.
Jackson’s road to the quarterfinals began with a 142 total over two stroke play rounds to earn the No. 26 seed. In the round of 64, Jackson defeated Hayden Springer, three and two. Next, Jackson defeated Auburn grad Jacob Solomon, one-up. Then, the Irish upstart knocked off Stanford national champion and 2018 U.S. Amateur semifinalist Isaiah Salinda, two-up.
This year’s event at Pinehurst marked Jackson’s fourth USGA championship and second U.S. Amateur.
— ND —