Aug. 5, 2010

Stockton, Calif. - It's déjà vu all over again for the Pacific Tigers as a "TJ" and a sophomore "Alex" will again be competing in the same United States Amateur. But unlike 2008 when Bordeaux traveled to Pinehurst with Alex Grieb, the 2010 version is all about Pacific junior Alex Edfort. The returning standout punched his ticket to Chambers Bay during the fourth playoff hole at Manhattan Woods in West Nyack, New York.

"To be honest I didn't play very good during the first round," said Edfort. "But I played more consistent in the second round and got it close to where I thought I might have a shot."

But after a double-bogey on 16 it was up in the air for the New Jersey-native as there were still a number of players out on the course. After a quick dinner and sort trip to the range he was informed that he was in a three-way playoff for the last and final spot. Steeling himself after a long wait he fought his way out of trouble on the first hole, extended the playoff on the second hole, nearly canned a 25-foot birdie putt on the third and finally closed it out on the fourth hole with a conservative two-putt.

"The pressure of that was incredible; to come back out after a long break and fight two other guys for the final spot," said Edfort. "I'm just glad that it's over."

It was that consistency and course management that helped Edfort become a mainstay in the Pacific line-up midway through his freshman season at Pacific in 2009-10. After playing in just one fall tournament he worked his way up the rotation for Goethals' Tigers, starting the spring with a 13th place at the Rice Intercollegiate and finishing the year with a 20h at the Big West Championship.

The United States Amateur will be played at Chambers Bay in Washington from August 23rd to the 29th.