Millard makes cut at U.S. Amateur

PINEHURST, N.C. - Rising sophomore Jason Millard became the second Middle Tennessee golfer ever to make the cut at the U.S. Amateur when he shot a 1-over 71 at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club Tuesday to finish the two rounds of stroke play tied for 25th at 2-over 142.

Millard, an honorable mention All-American following a strong freshman campaign, followed his 1-over 71 on Pinehurst No. 4 Monday with an even more impressive 1-over on the challenging No. 2 course, which played host to the 2005 U.S. Open, Tuesday.

Craig Smith became the first Blue Raider to advance to the match play portion of the U.S. Amateur in 2007 and Millard, a Murfreesboro native, will be among the final 64 when action resumes Wednesday.

Millard, seeded 31st based on the two rounds of stroke play performance, will face Oklahoma State signee Morgan Hoffmann (Saddle Brook, N.J.), the No. 34 seed at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.

"There was a little pressure there. It's the U.S. Amateur, I'm trying to make the cut, and I pulled through," Millard said. "It feels great. I have played pretty well the last few days on a tough course. My one goal was to make match play and from there anything can happen."

Millard's play at Pinehurst is a continuation of stupendous performances dating to the NCAA East Regional last May. He had six bogeys in 36 holes and each of those was on par-5s that played as 4s for this tournament.

"I feel like I played pretty well, obviously, and I have not had a double bogey so far and that's big," Millard said. "Bogeys won't kill anyone. Everyone is making bogeys but you can't have doubles. I have hit the ball pretty well but I'm really close to shooting even better. I had a couple putts go right by the hole. You have to hit it well and get in the middle of the greens because the edges run off completely. I think if I can keep doing what I'm doing I will be alright."

Millard was three shots off the projected cut line of 5-over when he made the turn Tuesday, playing the front after starting on the back. He didn't succumb to the pressure of his first U.S. Amateur and collected pars on eight of the nine holes, including the last seven in succession.

Middle Tennessee coach Whit Turnbow said the fact Millard played Pinehurst No. 2 in the manner he did Tuesday is even more impressive considering the practice round on the course was rained out.

"If there is one of the courses you want to play a practice round on it is No. 2, not No. 4, because it's the tougher of the two - they played the U.S. Open on it," Turnbow said. "To play it blind is a testament to Jason's ability to hit shots and overcome obstacles."

BYU standout Robbie Fillmore won the stroke play portion of the tournament at 5-under but Turnbow points out the 64 remaining golfers (out of a field of 315) are all square beginning Wednesday.

"Seeding doesn't matter because players at that level are all good. You will see plenty of upsets Wednesday so you can throw seeding out the window. That's more to pair players," Turnbow said. "The biggest adjustment for Jason will be from stroke play to match play. In stroke play you don't pay attention to what other competitors are doing but now you are. It doesn't matter what you shoot, you just have to beat the guy you are playing. Jason is a solid ball striker and he keeps it in play a lot. It wouldn't surprise me if he won the whole thing, he's that good."

Match play begins to unfold Wednesday with one round as the field is cut from 64 to 32. Golfers will play two rounds of match play Thursday to get the field to eight before playing single rounds Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

2008 U.S. Amateur
Pinehurst Resort and Country Club
Pinehurst, N.C.
Stroke play
T25 Jason Millard 71-71 = 142 +2 *
* - made cut, begins match play Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.