Ryan Axlund starts with 71 at Chambers Bay; CGA team tied for ninth in Pacific Coast Amateur’s Morse Cup
By Gary Baines – 7/20/2021
With Ryan Axlund of Englewood shooting an even-par 71 individually, the team representing Colorado and the CGA stands in ninth place after Tuesday’s opening round of the 54th Pacific Coast Amateur being contested at Chambers Bay, which hosted the 2015 U.S. Open.
Axlund, winner of the 2019 CGA Mid-Amateur Championship, was 3 under par through 12 holes in University Place, Wash., but three bogeys down the stretch left him with the 71. Axlund, who advanced to the round of 32 at the U.S. Mid-Amateur held at Colorado Golf Club in 2019, carded four birdies and four bogeys in round 1.
The first two rounds of the Pacific Coast Amateur double as the Morse Cup team competition, with 15 golf associations from the western U.S. and Canada participating.
With the top two scores out of three players for each association counting toward the team total, the Coloradans shot a 4-over-par 146. Besides Axlund, 2019 CGA Match Play winner Josh McLaughlin of Loveland fired a 75 and 2015 Match Play champ Nick Nosewicz of Aurora carded a 78. McLaughlin played his final six holes in 2 under par.
Since 2014, the CGA team’s best showing at the Morse Cup has been seventh place in 2018.
After the Morse Cup competition concludes after Wednesday, the 72-hole individual tournament will continue through Friday.
Pacific Coast Amateur
At Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.
9. CGA 146
Ryan Axlund, Englewood 71
Josh McLaughlin, Loveland 75
Nick Nosewicz, Aurora 78
For all the team and individual scores from the Pac Coast Amateur, CLICK HERE.