Krywulycz opens strongly at Dogwood
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Dogwood Invitational | Round One | 02 Jul 2009
With the field limited to qualified invitees and the host of top American amateurs, the Dogwood Invitation traditionally was part of the training ground for Australians. The Dogwood was also the first US amateur event for the season for many.
Two years ago, thirteen Australians teed up at the event, while last year the figure dropped to twelve. However, in 2009 only two, Augusta State Collegiate player Mitch Krywulycz and Ray Beaufils, are in the field.
Any hopes for an Australian victory will now fall upon Krywulycz, after he opened with a 1-under-par 71 to be in a tie for 12th, only three behind first round leader, Si Hwan Kim.
Ray Beaufils unfortunately had a round that he would rather forget, firing an 8-over-par, 80 to be well down the field in a tie for 76th.
Beaufils’ game has shown signs of a return to form with a top-5 finish at last week’s Rice Planters Championship and he opened strongly in his first main tournament after an extended break at the Sunnehanna Amateur in early June. Today’s round would obviously have been a disappointing for Beaufils, a player that prides himself on being highly competitive.
With twenty players, including Krywulycz, within three strokes of the leader Kim, the Dogwood remains an open affair.
Kim plays out of Stanford College in California and is a six-time winner on the American Junior Golf Association circuit and in 2004 won the United States Junior Amateur Championship. The world number 15 is the first US Junior Champion to attend Stanford since Tiger Woods in the mid-90’s.
Kim fired an opening 68 to hold a one stroke at 4-under-par from seven players at 3-under-par, including fellow Americans Brian Carter, Adam Mitchell and Matt Stauch.
Last year Matthew Giles finished the top Australian at the Dogwood Invitational in a tie for 12th at 10-under-par, eleven strokes from winner, American, Rory Hie. Giles is playing the Sahalee Players Championship this week along with fellow Australians, Ryan McCarthy and Daniel Nisbet.
Australians have experienced success at the Dogwood with Andrew Buckle winning the title in 2002. At present all Australian eyes will be on US based Mitch Krywulycz as he goes after his maiden win in the US.
