Mark Lawrence Jr. continues strong play at US Amateur

Hokie golfer wins twice, advances to quarterfinal round on Friday

August 17, 2017

Virginia Tech golfer Mark Lawrence Jr. won a pair of matches on Thursday at the 2017 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship and has advanced to the quarterfinal round on Friday. The weeklong event is being played at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California.

Lawrence, a rising junior from Richmond, Virginia, defeated Tyler Strafaci of Georgia Tech, 1 Up in the morning Round of 32. In the match, Lawrence jumped out to a quick lead, going 5 Up through six holes. Strafaci fought back and took a 1 Up lead after winning the 15^th hole. After halving the 16^th hole, Lawrence fought back and squared the match after winning the 17^th hole. Lawrence then hit his second shot close on the 18^th and made the short birdie putt to win the hole and the match.

After a short break, Lawrence was back on the course at Riviera for his Round of 16 match against Shae Wools-Cobb of Australia. A close match throughout, Lawrence never trailed and was only brought to All Square once. After being square at the turn, Lawrence won the 10^th and 11^th and held on. Up 1 entering the 16^th hole, Lawrence birdied the par-3 16^th and closed out the match with a far on the 17^th hole to win 2 & 1.

Lawrence advances to the quarterfinal round on Friday morning. He will face the 50^th seed Dawson Armstrong of Brentwood, Tennessee and Lipscomb. FS1 will televise portions of the quarterfinal round, beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday night.

By advancing to the quarterfinal round, Lawrence has earned an exemption into next year’s tournament.

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