Potomac Native Competes in U.S. Amateur

When Rusty Pies first stepped onto Erin Hills Golf Course on Monday morning, he knew he was in for a long day on the difficult layout.

Struggling with the 7,760-yard course, the Potomac, Maryland native fired an opening 76 in the first round of the U.S. Amateur in Erin, WI.

“I didn’t play very well, but I hung in there,” Pies said. “I had to grind my butt off out there to bring home a (76).”

Pies’ day got off on the wrong foot after a bogey on par-5 first hole, one the course’s easiest tests.  It went from bad to worse after a double bogey on the 495-yard par-4 fifth hole.

However, Pies started to turn things around after a surprising birdie on the 524-yard par-4 tenth.

“That was definitely the highlight for me today, the birdie on No. 10,” Pies said. “I didn’t even think I could reach it in two shots, but I hit a driver and a 3-wood into the green and somehow rolled in a 20-footer for a three.”

A pair of bogeys on the back nine par-5s, Nos. 14 and 18, left a sour taste, but the 41-year-old Pies was impressed with what he saw with the golf course.

“Erin Hills is off the charts spectacular,” Pies said. “I think this is going to be an awesome test for the U.S. Open (in 2017) because they can move the tee boxes even further back. The pros tore up Congressional, which is right near where I am from, but they will not tear up this course.”

Moving over to a more favorable Blue Mound Country Club on Tuesday, Pies is not willing to count himself out for making Wednesday’s match play competition.

“My goal is to make match play somehow,” Pies said. “Blue Mound is like home for me at Bethesda Country Club, so I am looking forward to the change of pace.”

The top 64 golfers after the first two days stroke play competition advance to the head-to-head portion, which will conclude Sunday with a 36-hole match play finale.