Men's Golf | 8/12/2018 12:59:00 AM

U.S Amateur Championship info

By Jerome Boettcher | George Mason Athletics

George Mason graduate student Connor Messick always had participating in the prestigious U.S. Amateur Championship on his to-do list.

Getting to play at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links is just icing on the cake.

"Going into this summer I had five or six tournaments and this was the one highlighted on the schedule – especially being out at Pebble Beach," he said. "I wanted to qualify for the U.S. Am wherever it was… but it just so happened to be at Pebble Beach, which makes it that much better."

Messick will tee off at the U.S. Amateur Championship at 5:40 p.m. (EST) on Monday at Pebble Beach. He'll then play the second round at nearby Spyglass Hill Golf Course, also in Pebble Beach, Calif.

The top 64 golfers after 36 holes of stroke play advance to match play, which begins on Wednesday and runs through Sunday. All round of match play will be televised nationally on Fox or FS1.

"I've seen it on video games and on TV of course," Messick said of Pebble Beach. "Everything is so amazing. The views are spectacular. But I feel like I am at home. I feel comfortable."

The 22-year-old flew out to California on Friday and spent the afternoon walking the course at Pebble Beach. He played a practice round at Pebble Beach on Saturday and followed up with a practice round at Spyglass Hill. His parents, Susan and Steve, made the trip as well as his swing coach Pat McGuire.

He qualified for the U.S. Amateur by tying for second at a sectional qualifier in July at The Country Club at Woodmore in Mitchellville, Md. He shot a 2-under 142 (73-69) for the tournament. 

"It was awesome to qualify," he said. "It shows all the hard work has paid off. Now that I've reached that goal of qualifying, it's time to reset goals. Being out here, I don't want to just play two rounds and go home. I have higher expectations."

Messick, a graduate transfer from the University of Virginia, will begin his first and lone season with the Patriots next month.

The Oak Hill native spent the last three seasons with the Cavaliers – he redshirted in 2014-15 – and graduated from UVA in May with his bachelor's degree in sociology. He's enrolled in a one-year graduate program at Mason, pursuing his master's degree in sports and recreation studies with a concentration in sport management.

He also hopes to bring experience to a Patriots squad which graduated five seniors this past spring and will feature just four returners. Messick will be the lone senior – eligibility-wise – on the roster.

"I talked to Coach (Scott) King and having the opportunity to come play on the team and kind of make an impact right away was pretty fitting," he said.

Messick, who graduated from Chantilly High, didn't start playing golf until he was 12 years old. But now he has aspirations of playing pro after his collegiate career ends next spring.

For now, though, he has his sights set on competing at the national stage at the U.S. Amateur Championship and building momentum entering the fall season with the Patriots.

"I'm just really excited," he said. "My goal is to make match play. But that is more down the road. I know it is cliché, but you really have to take it one shot at a time. My mental game has gotten pretty strong over the last year and a half. I know I will be in good shape. I'm ready for the challenge."