Canadian wins stroke-play portion at U.S. Amateur

ARDMORE, Pa. -- Canadian James Lepp led stroke-play qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship on Tuesday, following an opening even-par 70 at historic Merion Golf Club with a 5-under 65 at Philadelphia Country Club.

Lepp, the NCAA individual champion this year as a junior at Washington, and Eastern Michigan senior Korey Mahoney were the only players to break par in qualifying for the 64-man match-play tournament on Merion's Hugh Wilson-designed East Course.

"I had a good round yesterday, but I wanted to have a positive outlook today," Lepp said. "There are so many players in the field that a little hiccup here and a little hiccup there and you could get near the cut line even though I had a good round yesterday."

Mahoney shot a 67 on the Philadelphia Country Club course to finish at 1 under, four strokes behind Lepp. New Mexico junior Charlie Beljan, the first-round leader after a 64 on the Philadelphia course, had a 76 at Merion to join Lobos teammate Jay Choi at even par. Choi, from South Korea, shot a 72 at Merion on Tuesday.

Lepp will open match play today against the No. 64 qualifier, still to be determined in a playoff. Nineteen players tied for 48th at 6 over, forcing the playoff Wednesday morning for the final 17 spots.

Mahoney, from East Lansing, finished third in the Michigan Open and reached the quarterfinals of the Michigan Amateur Championship this summer.

"I've been playing well all summer," Mahoney said. "It's been a matter of getting the putter turned around and it finally has this week."

U.S. Junior Amateur champion Sihwan Kim advanced, while young Walker Cup players Oliver Fisher and Brian Harman were in the group at 6 over. The 15-year-old Kim, from Fullerton, Calif., shot a 73 on the Philadelphia course to finish at 3 over.

The 18-year-old Harman, the youngest player on the winning U.S. team, had a 75 at Philadelphia Country Club, and the 16-year-old Fisher, the youngest player in Walker Cup history, shot a 76 at Merion.

Pat Youngs, the husband of space shuttle Discovery commander Eileen Collins, followed his opening 76 at Merion with an 80 at Philadelphia.

Last year, Ryan Moore won the last four holes to beat Luke List 2-up in the final at Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Moore turned pro after the U.S. Open.

List failed to advance to match play, opening with an 80 on Monday at Merion and shooting a 69 on Tuesday at Philadelphia Country Club.