Gladson/Dunn, Brown/Mechling earn spots into 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball

 

From left – Nate Dunn, Marc Gladson, Jon Brown and Ethan Mechling.

 

Marc Gladson, of Cedar Rapids, and Nate Dunn, of Marion, took home the medalist honors and a trip to Birmingham, Alabama, for the 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. Gladson and Dunn fired an impressive 12-under round of 60 at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside and were medalists of qualifier by three shots on Monday. 

 

The duo started off red-hot with three birdies and an eagle in their first five holes. Dunn knocked in another eagle on the seventh hole, making the team seven-under through seven holes. With a birdie on the ninth hole, Gladson and Dunn closed out the front nine with an eight-under scorecard.

 

Another quick start for Gladson and Dunn began the back nine. Gladson’s birdie on the 11th hole gave him a boost of confidence and he made his second eagle of the day on the 12th hole. At this point, Gladson and Dunn were 11-under after 12 holes, but a cool stretch on holes 13 through 16 opened the door for the second-place finishers, Ethan Mechling (Des Moines) and Jon Brown (Adel) to make a run. 

 

Mechling and Brown made up three shots in that stretch of holes, but it was not enough to overcome Gladson and Dunn’s round. Although they did not earn medalist honors, Brown and Mechling still came away with the second qualifying spot into the 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. 

 

In a four-team playoff, Aaron Ahrendsen and Joshua Manske came away with first alternate honors after making eagle on the first playoff hole. Benton Weinberg and Jake Rowe will be the second alternate after birding the third playoff hole. 

 

U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying
1. Marc Gladson + Nate Dunn -12 60 *Qualifier
2. Ethan Mechling + Jon Brown -9 63 *Qualifier
T3. Aaron Ahrendsen + Joshua Manske -7 65 1st Alternate
T3. Benton Weinberg + Jake Rowe -7 65 2nd Alternate