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Cantlay in rare amateur air at U.S. Open

By Randall Mell
Jun 17, 2011 5:43 PM ET

BETHESDA, Md. – UCLA’s Patrick Cantlay posted the fifth best 18-hole score in the 111-year history of the U.S. Open on Friday.

So, naturally, after signing for his 4-under-par 67, Cantlay was asked about when he intends to turn pro. He just completed a highly successful freshman season winning four times, finishing runner-up at the NCAA championships and claiming the Jack Nicklaus Award as the nation’s best collegiate player.

“My timeline is after I graduate from UCLA,” said Cantlay, 19.

So his 67 changes nothing about his plans to turn pro?

“No."

So what’s the earliest he would entertain going pro?

“After I get a degree.”

Here are the four amateur scores lower than Cantlay’s in U.S. Open history:

65 (6 under) – James McHale, third round, St. Louis C.C.,

Clayton, Mo., 1947

65 (5 under) – James Simons, third round, Merion G.C.

(East Course), Ardmore, Pa., 1971

65 (5 under) – Nick Taylor, second round, Bethpage State

Park (Black Course), Farmingdale, N.Y., 2009

66 (6 under) – John Goodman, second round, North

Shore G.C., Glenview, Ill., 1933

Tags: US Open, Patrick Cantlay

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