ROLAND, Ark. — Stanford's Patrick Rodgers topped the 16 match-play qualifiers Friday in the 111th Western Amateur, shooting a 3-under 69 at The Alotian Club for a record 18-under 270 total.
Rodgers, from Avon, Ind., opened stroke-play qualifying with rounds of 66, 68 and 66.
Carlos Ortiz, a North Texas graduate from Mexico, was second at 15 under after a 67. U.S. Public Links champion Jordan Niebrugge, an Oklahoma State player from Mequon, Wis., followed at 11 under after a 72.
Rodgers broke the qualifying record of 16 under set last year by Chris Williams at Exmoor in Illinois.
"Every single pin was in such a demanding place, and if you got out of position, you were going to struggle to make par," Rodgers said. "Even holes where I thought I left it in the right spot ended up being really demanding. ... It was an 18-hole grind out there, I'll tell you what."
