Australia’s record contingent at this week’s US Amateur just grew again.
Queenslander Shae Wools-Cobb, who had been an alternate, has been promoted to the main field and will become the 11th Australian to tee it up at Riviera and Bel Air Country Clubs in Los Angeles from Monday.
The Queenslander finished an unlucky equal second at his regional qualifying event at Salix, Pennsylvania, a month ago, but will now be in the first group off at Bel Air in the 36-hole stroke play phase of the world’s premier amateur competition.
He will join automatic qualifiers Harrison Endycott, Min Woo Lee, Travis Smyth and fellow qualifiers Karl Vilips, Dylan Perry, Matias Sanchez, Ruben Sondjaja, Blake Collyer, Kiran Day and James Grierson in the record Aussie showing.
New South Welshman Blake Windred remains an alternate.
Canberra’s Josh Armstrong made a bold run at qualifying at the last minute via the time-honoured Canadian Amateur Championship, but this morning finished tied eighth.
Armstrong, last week confirmed into the International team for the inaugural Junior Presidents Cup in September, rattled home at the Toronto Golf Club with three late birdies to finish his final round at even par and at two under overall.
Ironically, the tournament’s winner, American Zach Bauchou at eight under, was ranked behind Wools-Cobb as second alternate from their US Amateur qualifying venue, but now gets an automatic start.