Weather delay halts 2nd round of U.S. Amateur Championship

With lightning in the area and storms approaching, play was suspended Tuesday afternoon at the 121st U.S. Amateur at 1:34 p.m.

There were 243 players that had not finished the second round of stroke play at Longue Vue Club and Oakmont Country Club when the stoppage occurred.

The top 64 players — out of 312 — qualify for match play, which is scheduled to begin Wednesday morning at Oakmont.

Jacob Bridgeman, of Inman, S.C., leads at 7-under par. He had yet to tee off in the second round when the horn blew.

Greensburg’s Mark Goetz was tied for second at 6-under with Alex Fitzpatrick and Joe Highsmith. Goetz had played two holes at Oakmont before the delay.

North Allegheny graduate Kevin O’Brien was 2-over with 16 holes left in his second round, at Oakmont, and tied for 62nd.

Jake Sollon of Peters Township and Jason Li were at 3-over and still on the course.

Other locals Sean Knapp, of Oakmont, and Murrysville’s Palmer Jackson, finished well shy of the cutline. Knapp shot 74-77-151 (+11), while Jackson shot matching 76s to close at 12-over.

Grant Martens, another North Allegheny alum, shot a pair of 77s.

The USGA already said a playoff would only happen Wednesday morning to break ties for unsettled qualifying spots.

Announcement coming

Unrelated, the USGA said there will be a “major announcement” at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Oakmont. While no further details were given, officials from Oakmont and Merion Golf Club will be present, along with senior leaders from the Pennsylvania legislature.