Schniederjans Battles Elements, Takes Lead For Medalist Honors

By Ken Klavon, USGA

Schniederjans

Bedminster, N.J. – Rain. Wind. Standing water in some places. To Oliver Schniederjans, the conditions couldn’t have been more ideal for the second round of stroke-play qualifying at the 62nd U.S. Junior Amateur.

The 16 year old  from Powder Springs, Ga., grinded through a 1-under 70 on the 7,000-yard Old Course at Trump National Golf Club on Tuesday for a 36-hole total of 2-under-par 141. He was the early clubhouse leader for medalist honors, followed by Greenwood Village, Colo. resident Wyndham Clark at 143 and Patrick Rodgers of Avon, Ind., at 144. Jim Liu, who shot even-par 71 Tuesday, came in at 145.

First-round leaders Juan Luna (66), and Austin Cody, Emiliano Grillo and Will Murphy, all of whom posted 67 on the New Course Monday, had afternoon tee times.

While scores were ballooning due to constant  rain showers and blustery conditions, Schniederjans held steady. He awoke to find a deluge outside his window and headed to the course.  He was drenched as he warmed up on the range, thinking he’d be lucky to break 80. Then he channeled practice habits he developed during bad weather. 

“Absolutely,” he said. “I’ve been working hard on hitting the ball low when it’s raining and windy.”

That’s the strategy he utilized in producing four birdies. He had a highlight 40-foot birdie putt on the par-4 ninth. The ball, traversing uphill, broke slightly to the left before dropping in.

The high school junior-to-be, coming off the PGA Junior Championship in Georgia, picked up the game five years ago under the tutelage of Bentwater Golf Club instructor Mark Anderson. He’s playing in his first U.S. Junior Amateur, adding that he’s ecstatic about getting into Wednesday’s match play.

Players with early tee times had the unfortunate task of battling the Old Course, and no wonder, considering it played to an 81 scoring average Tuesday morning. Most participants ended the first round amid blustery winds, only to turn around and face more of Mother Nature’s fury in the morning.

Call it luck of the draw.

Clark had the misfortune of playing through the elements, carding a respectable 74 Tuesday. He started the day amid heavy rains and when that stopped, the wind picked up appreciably.  He used that to his advantage after shaping his shot through crosswinds Monday.

“Some of the guys did get the luck of the draw,” said the 15-year-old Clark, who chipped in on No. 14 from 40 yards off the green for birdie. “But I think they may not be as mentally tough from those two days when we get into match play where we could face the same conditions.”

Rodgers, 17, shot 74 but didn’t think he’d come close. The second-time U.S. Junior competitor contended with the rains much of the round. It affected length, leading to six bogeys against three birdies. Overall, though, he felt confident knowing that he worked hard to make it into match play.

“You have to play [the course] with no roll off the tee ball, then there’s the wind,” he said. “It’s just a really tough test of golf.”

Although there were no suspensions in play, the USGA decided to push back afternoon tee times by 30 minutes. Officials didn’t have much to do to get the two courses at Trump ready. Competitors in the U.S. Girls’ Junior played the New Course Tuesday.

According to Ben Kimball, the director of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, trouble spots on the Old Course were squeegeed early in the morning.

“We really didn’t have to do a whole lot,” said Kimball. “These courses drain beautifully. There is some casual water in some fairways, but nothing that is bad.”

Ken Klavon is the USGA’s editor of new media. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.