Gaunt and Senn III were co-medalists at -9 and Smith won a two-man playoff to claim the third qualifying spot at -8.
July 23, 2023
By Chris Werner
USGA P.J. Boatwright Jr. Intern
Connor Gaunt, Michael Senn III, and Jansen Smith qualified for the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship on July 17 at DeSoto Golf Course in Hot Springs Village. Gaunt and Senn III were co-medalists at -9 and Smith won a two-man playoff to claim the third qualifying spot at -8.
Gaunt, who is set to return to LSU for his final year of collegiate eligibility in the fall, made eight birdies, an eagle, and just one bogey to advance to his second straight — and final — U.S. Amateur, as he intends to turn pro next summer.
“Just kind of managed my way around,” Gaunt said. “Played in a tournament last week and didn’t really hit the ball too well and kind of just managed it like I did today. I actually hit the ball a lot better today. I only had one bogey for 36 holes … not making stupid decisions and just the flat stick got hot when it needed to.”
The 2022 and 2023 Arkansas Men’s Amateur Champion from Cabot played the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th holes at DeSoto in a combined 6-under, picking up two of those birdies on his 33rd and 34th holes of the day.
“Playing college golf has really prepared me for [playing 36 holes in one day],” Gaunt said. “Do that a lot, every couple of weeks we play 36 holes one day, so it's a grind and I couldn't be more blessed to play well.”
Gaunt will return to the U.S. Amateur after he missed the cut for match play by five strokes last year at The Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. Gaunt noted that this year’s qualifying rounds were special as his father John was caddying for him.
“It means a lot [to qualify],” Gaunt said. “Definitely one of the best amateur tournaments in the world, and just to go up there and play against some world-class competition will be fun. Just really means a lot and especially to be here with dad on the bag, that was fun. So yeah, I really can't be more excited.”
Senn III used rounds of 69 and 66 to advance to his first U.S., Amateur. Identically to Gaunt, he counted one eagle, one bogey, and eight birdies over the two rounds.
“I think one of the main things I was focusing on was just kind of my mindset going into it,” Senn III said. “Obviously 36 holes is a long day, so not getting too frustrated over a bad shot, but just really capitalizing on the good ones. And then just gaining some momentum to use for the 36 [holes].”
The rising senior at Belmont University from Bentonville is excited to be heading back to a USGA championship for the first time since he competed at the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
“I'm really looking forward to it, Senn III said. “Something I've dreamt of just as I started golf. I have some family up in Colorado, so it’ll be fun to see them. And hopefully, they get out and come and watch, but really looking forward to it.”
Smith, who qualified by defeating Justin Hastings on the second playoff hole, birdied his final two holes of regulation to get into the playoff and then the par-3 ninth twice in the playoff.
“In the first round I hit a lot of good shots and maybe didn't quite take advantage of all I needed to, left a couple out there,” Smith said. “So just kind of learn from that and also the positives from the morning round. And then in the afternoon, you know, it was still hitting the ball really good. You can get in some trouble out here pretty quickly if not careful off the tee. So stayed really present when the pressure was high. And yeah, I was just able to birdie, my last four holes to get in.”
Smith said he checked the leaderboard on his phone in the middle of the back nine and knew he had to kick it into gear down the stretch.
“Probably on 14 or 15, I knew that there were two 9-unders in and I was at six at the time,” Smith said. “I was finishing on the back nine so I knew that there was some gettable holes coming in. Two reachable par fives a short par four. Just made a lot of pars kept plugging along in the middle of the second round and just made some really good putts for par and birdie from within 10 feet or so in the last last couple of holes.”
Smith has played in three U.S. Amateurs but hasn’t qualified since 2019, where he finished 28th in stroke play and lost to Australia’s Karl Vilips in the round of 64.
Smith said his finish of four straight birdies was “definitely up there” on the list of his best finishes in tournament play.
“I haven't been super under the gun like that when it comes to USA amateurs,” Smith said. “I’ve played in three of them, but it's been four years and this is going to be my last one. So I really wanted to really, really wanted to get in and, you know, just dealt with all that pressure really well, pretty proud of that.”
The U.S. Amateur is slated for Aug. 14-20 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado.
