Davis Bryant tips his hat to fans and spectators after making his final putt on the 18th hole during the second day of play at the 123rd US Amateur Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club on August 15, 2023. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson /The Denver Post)
CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE – Davis Bryant tapped his last putt in the US Amateur Championship, and tears streamed down his caddy’s cheeks.
No, the Eaglecrest High School graduate and CSU standout didn’t make the cut to match the game. But the waterworks from his caddy – dad, Matt – is a warranted signal of a golf chapter closing for Bryant, and another one soon to open.
Tuesday marked the final day of amateur competition for Bryant, who turned pro and will make his debut in September at the pre-qualifying stage of the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School.
“When I tapped in the last putt, so many great amateur memories ran through my mind,” Davis Bryant said. “It was a special week to get the chance to play in (a second) US Amateur, although I’m disappointed that I didn’t do what I wanted.
“Dad did what he had to do in my bag, I just didn’t execute right on some shots. But I’m enjoying every moment here with him, as I always do.”
Bryant finished six-over after carding a two-over 73 on Tuesday at Cherry Hills Country Club, putting him six shots behind the cutline at even par to advance to Wednesday’s round-of-64 match play. .
That didn’t take the shine off the week for Matt Bryant, who also caddied for his daughter, Emma, ​​at last week’s US Women’s Amateur at Bel Air Country Club in Los Angeles. Emma, ​​a junior at the University of Denver, also missed the cut in her USGA championship debut. Matt has been a coach/caddie for both players throughout their careers.
“I couldn’t have asked for more from these kids,” Matt Bryant, the longtime Director of Golf/GM at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, said through tears. “And back-to-back weeks in the US Am? I couldn’t have asked for two better weeks in the bag.”
Emma was one of about 40 supporters of her brother’s gallery in the last two days, and she and her brother have become influencers in each other’s careers. The brother and sister won the Class 5A state title in the same school year while at Eaglecrest — Davis as a senior in the fall of 2017 and Emma as a freshman in the spring of 2018 — and have been close ever since.
“I learned a lot from him,” Emma said. “I’ve always been compared to him my whole life, so at first it was hard, but as I grew up, I realized how grateful I am to be his brother. We go together, chip, play. (In training) he knows what motivates me, but knows not to force it. And we always have fun on the course.â€
Bryant has been on a hot streak lately. He finished his five-year career with the Rams with the second-best stroke average (71.95) in program history. He was a three-time All-Mountain West Conference selection. And as a graduate student this year, he has a 71.67 stroke average, including two runner-ups and has finished in the top 30 in 11 of his 13 tournaments.
“He’s been playing for a long time, but this year he wants to come out strong,” CSU golf coach Michael Wilson said. “(That attitude) shows every day. He has big hopes and dreams and he wants and expects to win. That will translate to the next level.â€
While Bryant’s pro plans are set for later this year, he also has a backup plan. He finished his masters in sports management this summer and will be a graduate assistant coach for the Rams in the fall.
He said that teaching is “plan B” if his professional career does not work out.
“I keep that in my back pocket if I need it,” Bryant said. “But I want to give it a shot first. I think I can do it.”
Day 2 notes: Blades Brown, a 16-year-old from Nashville, finished at seven-under to join 22-year-old Chinese golfer Sampson Zheng (Cal) and 21-year-old Jackson Buchanan (Illinois/Dacula, Ga) as co-medalists in the stroke play round. Brown, a two-time Tennessee high school state champion, is the youngest co-medalist in tournament history. Brown has already made waves this year, winning the Tennessee Junior Amateur by 12 strokes and also taking fifth at the Tennessee State Open… Connor Jones (Mountain Range/Colorado State) carded a one-under at Cherry Hills to finish at five-under in stroke play, giving him the No. 9 seeds. Unlike Bryant, Jones has one year of college eligibility remaining, and he plans to use it… Top-ranked amateur Gordon Sargent (Vanderbilt/Birmingham, Ala.) finished three-under, and got the No. 24 seed… Colorado Springs native Colin Prater, an assistant golf coach for Cheyenne Mountain High School, also made the cut by finishing one-under with four days at Colorado Golf Club. He and Jones are the only two of nine Colorado golfers in the tournament to advance to match play. Prater is the No. 46 seeds.
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