June 13, 2019
Stanford Grad Wu Fires 71 at U.S. Open
Brandon Wu has big plans this weekend. The 22-year-old is scheduled to graduate from Stanford University. But if his play Thursday at the U.S. Open is any indication, he may be walking the fairways of Pebble Beach Golf Links instead.
Wu shot an even-par 71 to put himself in the conversation for low-amateur after first round play. The Scarsdale, New York resident and former NCGA member hit 12 of 14 fairways in the opening round, a major key to success in any U.S. Open. As he mentioned after the round, “You can’t be playing out of the rough out here, it’s just going to be way too difficult. I just tried to keep it in the short stuff, hit the middle of the green and lag it up close.”
Wu is no stranger to success on the big stage as of late. He was 3-0 this year as a member of the national championship Stanford Men’s Golf team at the NCAA Championship back in May. Just two weeks later, he fired rounds of 67-70 at the Columbus, Ohio Sectional qualifying to advance to his first U.S. Open.
He also has experience playing Pebble Beach in championship conditions, having played in the 2018 U.S. Amateur. But Wu conceded it’s not quite the same this week, “The rough is much heavier. It’s not something college kids see that much.”
Wu’s experience this week will only get him closer to his ultimate goal of turning pro in the fall. But in the shorter term, Wu will remain amateur to try and earn a selection on the 2019 U.S. Walker Cup team. His round today certainly places him on the short list for that squad. Wu continues his play at the U.S. Open Friday at 2:20 pm off the tenth tee.
-Ian Dahl, NCGA Staff
