Scranton CC's Reach tops USGA Junior Amateur Qualifier at Glenmaura

   MOOSIC, Pa. – Nicholas Reach of the Country Club of Scranton dug deep to top Monday’s U.S. Junior Amateur Championship Qualifier at Glenmaura National GC (par 71, 6,833 yards).

  The Moscow, Pa., resident carded a 36-hole total of 3-over par 145, with a stellar second-round finish of 3-under-par 68. He shot 6-over-par 77 in the morning session.

  “I made a lot of putts. That really jumpstarted me,” Reach, 17, said.

  Reach netted six birdies in the afternoon session. On No. 3 (par 4, 446 yards), with about 165 yards left, Reach stuck his 7-iron to about three feet and drained the ensuing birdie putt. Standing on the fairway about 118 yards away from the flagstick on No. 4 (par 4, 402 yards), Reach knocked his pitching wedge short right but converted a 35-footer for birdie. He then went on to fire back-to-back birdies on Nos. 8 (par 4, 414 yards) and 9 (par 3, 158 yards).

  “I was really confident in my game after that,” he said.

  Reach closed out his round by firing a birdie on No. 18 (par 4, 358 yards) after his approach 56-degree wedge landed about 15 feet away from the flagstick.

  “It felt good to finish that way,” he said. “I hit a lot of greens the second time around. That was really amazing.”

  Reach feels ecstatic to play in the championship next month.

  “It took three years, but I finally did it,” he said. “This is one of the things that I wanted to do all year. I know all of the prestige and history behind this tournament. I just really wanted to qualify.”

  Andrew Bieber of Frosty Valley CC and Brian Mahlstedt of Glen Oak CC also qualified. Bieber finished with a 36-hole total of 4-over-par 146. The Danville, Pa., resident set a steady pace early by registering a 1-over-par 72 in the morning session.

  “I didn’t make too many mistakes out there. I feel like I’m hitting the ball pretty well out there,” Bieber, 14, said. “I like the greens, so I like my chances.”

  Bieber carded birdies on Nos. 5 (par 4, 422 yards), 6 (par 5, 546 yards) and 16 (par 4, 430 yards). On No. 5, his tee-shot - a driver – settled on the center of the fairway. With 162 yards left, he struck his 7-iron to about three feet and converted his ensuing birdie putt.

  After his tee shot sailed 313 yards on No. 6, Bieber’s 3-wood traveled about 235 yards and found the green. His 20-footer lipped out, but Bieber drained his ensuing three-footer for birdie.

  “That (birdies on Nos. 5 and 6) really got me going,” he said.

  A birdie seemed unlikely on No. 16 after Bieber’s second shot – a 6-iron - traveled about 70 yards and landed in the bunker.

  “I was trying to avoid the water on the left. I aimed a little bit right, but I pushed it a little,” Bieber said.

  But a resilient Bieber chipped in for birdie and essentially avenged a triple bogey on No. 13 (par 4, 424 yards). Bieber made pars on his final two holes.

  Mahlstedt, of Clarks Summit, Pa., considered both rounds to be the "best golf he's ever played." The 17 year old carded a 36-hole total of 6-over-par 148.

  "I played so solid," Mahlstedt said. "I didn't make that many birdies, but I didn't make that many bogeys. I just made putts. It feels awesome."

  Greg Jarmas of Philadelphia Publinks GA and Patrick Ross of Dunmore, Pa. earned alternate positions Monday. It’s been quite a week for Jarmas. The Wynnewood, Pa., resident registered a 1-over-par 73 at Woodstone CC last week to qualify for the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Open Championship Qualifier, which will be held at Bent Creek CC on July 22. The following day, he reached the round of 16 in the 95th Junior Boys’ Championship at Riverton CC.

  Jarmas’ hot streak continued Monday as he registered a 36-hole total 7-over-par 149. In the morning session, the 17 year-old shot 1-over-par 72. He posted birdies on Nos. 1 (par 5, 581 yards), 9 (par 3, 158 yards) and 18 (par 4, 358 yards).

  On No. 18, his approach shot - a GAP wedge – sailed about 115 yards, and Jarmas then drained a 15-footer for birdie. He again used a GAP wedge for his approach on No. 1 from about 110 yards from the flagstick and knocked it to about a foot.

  Standing about 164 yards from the flagstick on No. 9 – his last hole of the first round, Jarmas stuck his 7-iron to about three feet and converted the ensuing birdie putt. Consistent drives allowed Jarmas to earn a solid score.

  “I’ve been hitting it really straight and hitting a lot of fairways,” he said.

  Fifty-nine players competed in Monday’s qualifier.

  The U.S. Junior Amateur Championship will be held at Trump National GC in Bedminster, N.J. from July 20-25. The event is open to amateur golfers 17 years of age and younger with a USGA Handicap Index of 6.4 or lower.