Blayne Barber, Will McCurdy Currently In Top 10 At U.S. Amateur - AuburnTigers.com

Blayne Barber, Will McCurdy Currently In Top 10 At U.S. Amateur The pair look to compete in Wednesday's match play portion of the event.

Blayne Barber

Aug. 23, 2011

ERIN, Wis. - Rising Auburn junior Blayne Barber closed out his second and final round of stroke play Tuesday at the 2011 U.S. Amateur tied for second at 7-under par, while rising senior Will McCurdy is currently tied for 8th at 4-under.

The event, split between the Erin Hills and Blue Mound Country Clubs, both east of Milwaukee, will advance the top 64 players out of match play into Wednesday's opening round of stroke play. Stroke play was set to conclude Tuesday evening, however a lengthy weather delay forced the day's round to be suspended with over 50 scorecards unfinished.

"Blayne and Will continue to play at the very high level they have shown all summer long," said Auburn head coach Nick Clinard. "I spoke with them both earlier. They are both pretty confident right now. It all starts over tomorrow with match play.

"The last stroke play pairing should wrap up around noon and they will set the field for match play. Blayne and Will obviously played great and we're all very happy for them."

Barber entered the day tied for fourth following an opening round 68 at Erin Hills, followed by a 67 Tuesday at Blue Mound. The Lake City, Fla., native carded six birdies in each round.

Ranked 11th in the Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings, Barber is in the middle of another successful amateur campaign, helping lead Team USA to victory at the 2011 Palmer Cup. Barber followed the Palmer Cup with top-fives at the Southern and Northeast Amateurs.

The two-time GCAA All-American was exempt through qualifcation for the 2011 U.S. Am after making it to the round of 32 at the 2010 event.

McCurdy, a native of Fort Payne, Ala., entered the day tied for 11th after an opening round 69 at Erin Hills. A second round 69 moved McCurdy back into the top-10.

McCurdy has finished in the top-3 in six of his last seven amateur events including a playoff win at the 2011 Palmetto Am. He qualified for the U.S. Am after defeating Stewart Jolly in a sudden-death playoff for the final qualifying spot out of Wynlakes Golf and Country Club in Montgomery, Ala.

Stroke play will resume Wednesday morning followed by the announcement of pairings for the match play portion of the championship.

Complete tournament information and scoring can be accessed via www.USGA.org.