MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — WVU senior golfer Mark Goetz earned medalist honors at the U.S. Amateur in Pittsburgh. The Greensburg, Pa. native finished off a weather-delayed second round Wednesday morning at Oakmont County Club. At 8-under par, Goetz posted the best 36-hole total among a field of 312 golfers.
As the stroke play champion, Goetz has earned the No. 1 seed in the match play bracket. Goetz began his first round match against Sweden’s David Nyjfall late Wednesday afternoon. The match is all square through four holes and will be resumed Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. Second round play will follow.
.@HunterWvu88bgn asks @SeanCovich, @WVUGolf head coach, if golfer Mark Goetz can become a professional and succeed. @TonyCaridi @BradHowe07. pic.twitter.com/OdsQIfbu0y
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) August 11, 2021
Goetz opened the tournament Monday with a bogey-free round of 64 at Longue Vue Club. He then shot a 2-under round at Oakmont to wrap up medalist play.
“I am just so happy for him, being a Pittsburgh-area kid. People talk about Augusta or Pebble Beach but when you are from this neck of the woods, Oakmont is everything,” said WVU golf coach Sean Covich. “For him to have this historical moment, they’ll never be able to take it away from him. It is pretty cool.”
Goetz was named WVU’s first golf All-American after a runner-up finish at the NCAA Regionals in Noblesville, Ind. He also finished as the runner-up at the 108th Pennsylvania Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club in July.
Former WVU golfer Matthew Sharpstene also qualified for match play at the U.S. Amateur. He is the No. 23 seed and will face Ryggs Johnston Thursday morning at 8:20 a.m.