by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
If Jay Choi were tossed from a moving vehicle into the UNM men's golf season, he would hit the ground running.
The senior made it to the third round of the U.S. Amateur - the most challenging amateur tournament in the country - before losing in match play on Thursday to Anthony Kim of Oklahoma University.
The third-round finish at the U.S. Amateur capped a summer in which Choi also won the Albuquerque City Amateur tournament.
Choi said it has been the perfect setup to his last collegiate season.
"It's a huge tournament," he said. "It tells me what I'm capable of doing."
The U.S. Amateur consists of the best players in the world who have yet to turn professional. Although the majority of the players attend colleges in the United States, several players come from all over the world.
Choi lost on the first playoff hole against Kim. To get to the third round, Choi had to make the cut after two rounds of stroke play. Then, Choi had to beat two other players in match play.
It was Choi's best showing at the event, as he failed to make the cut at the tournament a year ago. He was suffering from a back problem that prevented him from playing up to his potential last year, he said. By making it to the third round this year, he placed in the tournament's top 16.
Choi finished stroke play in a tie for third place with fellow Lobo Charlie Beljan. Beljan lost his first-round match against Billy Hurley.
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Redshirt freshman Darrin Hall failed to make the cut. Hall finished stroke play at 19-over-par after shooting a first round 81 and a second round 78.
Dillon Dougherty of Northwestern University beat Edoardo Molinari of Italy in the final match to win the tournament.
Choi said his third-round finish does as much for the Lobos as a team as it does for him individually.
"Of course it gives me some confidence," he said. "It also gives the team some confidence, too."
Choi said the myriad tournaments he's played in should bring some much-needed experience to the team, as he is one of three seniors on the team.
"I feel like I have a big role coming in, and I'm the only one with a lot of tournament experience," he said. "It feels like there's some weight on my shoulders."
That weight might be more than Choi lets on. Spencer Levin is skipping his senior season with the Lobos this year to try his hand at the professional circuit. Levin was a first-team All-American last season.
Choi said his game started to shape up during last year's postseason with the Lobos. Choi finished the NCAA Championship in a tie for 27th place overall, as the Lobos came in fifth place in the tournament last year.
"There is more experience under my belt," he said. "Really, I've just been learning how to be patient."
