Justin Gabbard’s golf game is coming together just in time. The 2021 Highlands High School graduate is in the field and ready to tee it up for a U.S. Amateur qualifying round Monday, July 24, at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio.
“My physical game is ready,” Gabbard said. “It will be a mental challenge and my mental game is getting better.”
July 25 is the final day for 36-hole qualifying at 89 events across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Qualifying began June 26. The 123rd U.S. Amateur Championship is August 14-20 at Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado, where 312 non-professionals will convene in an attempt to replace reigning champion Sam Bennett, the world No. 3 amateur from Texas A&M at the time of his victory.
When you’ve been a solid, in-the-know golfer most of your life, it’s hard not to dream about hoisting the Havemeyer Trophy after a U.S. Amateur victory. Gabbard, now playing at Xavier University, has those dreams. He qualified for the U.S. Amateur last year but had a difficult start. He hopes to return again this year and turn the tables on the results.
“I had a rough first day,” Gabbard said of last year’s experience at The Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New Jersey. He was the last player to tee off. “It was very tough because I don’t have a lot of experience on a course like that. It was a really long course, but that wasn’t as bad as the rough. I want to do a lot better.”
First things first. He has to qualify. Course knowledge at TPC River’s Bend should be a boon. Gabbard qualified out of TPC River’s Bend for last year’s U.S. Amateur with a two-round score of 7-under-par 137, earning one of two spots at the national event.
“Our home practice course at Xavier, Maketewah, was under construction for a while so we were practicing at TPC River’s Bend,” Gabbard said. “The course sets up well for me. The driver is the best club in my bag. I’m longer off the tee and it’s a longer course. I’ve made three birdies on it this year alone.”
These are the last summer playing events for Gabbard. Wrapping up the offseason with success would be the perfect springboard into his junior season for the Musketeers. He ranked second on the team last year as a sophomore with a round stroke average just below 75. He shot 70 three times. Gabbard ranked third on the team in scoring average as a freshman at 75.36.
Gabbard was a 12-time tournament medalist at Highlands. He was the 2018 Kentucky High School Athletic Association Region 8 individual champion and the 2018 and 2020 Region 8 player of the year. He also was the 2020-21 Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Division II player of the year and first-team all-state in 2020.
Gabbard hopes to add to his impressive list of credentials over the next several months.
“I really want to have a good season at Xavier,” he said. “I’m excited to get back to school. I think we’re going to be a lot better this year.”
Elsewhere around the links:
ASCH 11 SHOTS SHORT: Former Covington Catholic High School golfer Ian Asch missed qualifying for the U.S. Amateur at Monday’s sectional hosted by Moraine Country Club in Dayton, Ohio. Asch, now golfing at Wright State University, shot a two-round score of 6-over-par 148. The Edgewood native finished 10 shots behind first alternate, University of Kentucky golfer Ian Goff (138), the 2020 Kentucky Amateur Champion.
RAMAGE QUALIFIES FOR U.S. WOMEN’S AMATEUR: It’s been a stellar spring and summer for a handful of current and former Cooper High School golfers. Reagan Ramage, the Jaguars’ reigning regional champion, qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship Aug. 7-13 at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles with a co-medalist performance during qualifying at Walnut Grove Country Club in Dayton, Ohio.
The incoming junior scored 2-under-par 70. Ramage won the 2022 KHSAA Region 7 girls individual crown. She paced three Jaguars in the top three as Cooper won the team title. Ramage tied for fifth at the state tournament and was named first-team all-state.
WOTHERSPOON TOP 10 AT OHIO AM: One-time Cooper state champion Rylan Wotherspoon tied for seventh at last week’s 117th Ohio Amateur Championship with a four-round score of even-par 288, eight shots behind winner Andrew Bailey, a former Cleveland State player. Wotherspoon, golfing at the University of Cincinnati, carded rounds of 70-75-72-71 at the 72-hole stroke play championship, which had a cut after 36 holes and another cut after 54. Players must be a resident of Ohio or attending college in Ohio to be eligible. Wotherspoon, Kentucky’s 2020 Mr. Golf, had the top stroke average (71.75) among Cincinnati freshmen in 2022-23.
MARUISHI TOP 25 AT JUNIOR MET: Former Cooper golfer Yuji Maruishi was the highest local finisher at the Greater Cincinnati Golf Association’s 82nd Metropolitan Junior Boys Championships at Miami View Golf Club. Representing Traditions Golf Club, Maruishi tied for 21st, carding a two-round score of 11-over 153. Maruishi was fourth at the KHSAA Region 7 boys tournament as a senior. He’s on roster as a freshman for the Thomas More University men’s golf team.
HEBRON SISTERS BLISTERING HOT: Reese Anthony finished first in the girls 12-under division at the Loveland Invitational, a GCGA 1905 Junior Tour event. The tournament was played at Hickory Woods Golf Club. She carded a nine-hole score of 5-over 40, 10 shots ahead of the runner-up. She added a second-place finish at the tour’s Glenview Junior Invitational, carding an 18-hole score of 85. Reese remains in first place in the GCGA 1905 Junior Tour girls 12-under player of the year points race with 1,240. She has six wins on tour this year.
Sister Nora Anthony was second in the Loveland Invitational girls 9-under competition with a nine-hole score of 53. She followed up with a first-place finish in her division at the tour’s Walden Junior Open at Walden Ponds Golf Club with a nine-hole score of 50. She also took first at the Glenview Junior Invitational with an 18-hole score of 102. Nora has moved into first place in the girls 9-under player of the year points race with 910. She has four victories, giving the Anthony sisters 10 wins on tour this year.