Columnist Victoria Sun: Harvey, Wingfield survive cut at U.S. Amateur

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2001 | 9:49 a.m.

Victoria Sun is a Las Vegas Sun sportswriter. Reach her at victoria@lasvegassun.com.

One local player had to fight through the second round of stroke play at the 101st U.S. Amateur to make it to match play.

The other had to fight himself so he didn't squander his chances after a 3-under-par 69 first round.

Both Bonanza High graduate Billy Harvey and former UNLV golfer Scott Wingfield did exactly what they needed to do to qualify for match play that started this morning.

After falling 12 strokes behind leader Robert Godfrey with an opening round 75, Harvey rebounded Tuesday by firing a 5-under-par 67 at the Druid Hills Golf Club in Atlanta to make the cut.

"We played at a different course," Harvey said of starting at the East Lake Golf Club where the rest of the tournament will be played. "It was a little bit easier.

"I played alright yesterday. Just the first nine holes were bad. Today, I played in the morning so the greens were better. Yesterday it was a little bumpy so it was hard to make long putts out there."

Chris Mundorf of Greensboro, N.C., set a USGA record with his 9-under-par 63 on Tuesday at the Druid Hills Golf Club for a two-day total 134 to lead the field. Bermuda resident Michael Sims and Godfrey finished at 135.

Harvey, playing in his third U.S. Amateur, birdied six holes and had one bogey in contrast to no birdies and five bogeys the previous day.

The two-time Nevada state champion entered Tuesday's round well aware of the ground he needed to make up in order to advance to match play. The field of 312 was narrowed to 64 at the conclusion of an eight-player playoff this morning.

Harvey finished the first two days at even par 142, two strokes better than the cut at 2-over-par 144.

"The first day's the most important day," Harvey said. "You want to shoot low to give yourself a cushion.

"There was definitely more pressure today because you know you have to shoot low. I hit a 40-foot birdie putt on the first hole which loosened things up for me."

Harvey, an All-American at BYU, said he plans to turn professional following the event.

Wingfield's golf future isn't so certain.

After seeing limited playing time in 2 1/2 years as a Rebel, Wingfield quit the team last December.

Wingfield, a native of Grand Blanc, Mich., will be a senior at UNLV this year. He said he has no idea what tournaments he'll play now that he's not on the team.

"I just was not happy being on the team," Wingfield said. "I'm playing a lot better now and having a lot more fun.

"But I'm still a proud Rebel. I've still got my UNLV bag I'm carrying this week."

Wingfield, playing in his second U.S. Amateur, carded a 3-under-par 69 in the first round, but followed it with a 4-over-par 74 for a total 143 to avoid the playoff.

Wingfield attributed his second-round troubles, which included six bogeys, to the fact that he didn't hit his driver as well on the longer East Lake course.

As he approached his final hole of the day, the 579-yard par 5 No. 9, Wingfield knew he had to birdie to avoid the playoff.

Still, he hooked his drive left into the rough, then hit his lay-up shot into the right rough before hitting a wedge to about 15 feet behind the pin. That set up the birdie putt which he calmly sank.

"I'm excited," Wingfield said. "I played well.

"I scrambled a lot to make it today. It's always better not having to go into a playoff. Match play is a whole new ball game and it'll be a lot of fun."