Aug. 24, 2005

Michael Kirby, 20, of Virginia Beach qualified earlier this summer and played in the 105th U.S. Amateur on Monday and Tuesday this week at Philadelphia Country Club and at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. The Philadelphia C.C. course was used for the first two days of stroke play, played at 6,967 yards and par 35-35- 70. Merion G.C. played at 6,846 yards and par 34-36--70 was used for stroke play, but is the only site for match play.

Kirby, a rising senior at Mason, finished the first and second rounds of stroke play shooting a 77-77=154 (+14), but missed the final cut, which came in at +6. He carded four birdies and 17 pars in his two rounds, but 15 bogeys or higher marred his efforts to make the cut. He finished 190th out of 308 players.

The Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.