Jake Bauer, Matt Johnson Qualify for 2027 U.S. Four-Ball
Reigning Rhod Island Amateur champion Jake Bauer and partner Matt Johnson qualified for the 2027 U.S. Four-Ball Championship earlier this week.
The duo carded a six-under 66 at GreatHorse to earn co-medalist honors and advance to the 2027 U.S. Four-Ball Championship at Erin Hills in May.
“I’ve done two Ams and it’s obviously singular. Having a partner, I think at that level and sort of seeing what it takes to to compete out there, it’ll be good to have someone to lean on,” Bauer told Mass Golf after the round.
Alex Leonard and Evan Forest also tied for co-medalist, while Guy Antonacci and Drake Hull earned dot third qualifying spot in a playoff.
Grinding it Out
However, the qualifying did not come without its challenges.
The qualifier started on Tuesday, September 1 with about half the field finishing before inclement weather wiped the rest of the day out.
The remainder of the field finished their qualifying round on Wednesday, September 2.
Bauer and Johnson started their qualifier on Tuesday and were just one-under for the tournament entering the final nine holes – which were played on Wednesday.
Sparked by Johnson’s four birdies from holes 13-16, the pair carded a 31 on the back nine to finish at six-under par for the qualifier and in a tie for medalist honors.
“I made a nice, probably 10 footer on 10, that got us to -2, and I think that sort of gave us the confidence, and then Matt’s swing really dialed in pretty much once we hit 13. I was hitting it pretty close and it sort of freed him up on some putts. We weren’t really stressing for pars too much from 13 in,” Bauer told Mass Golf.
Bauer closed with two clutch pars to finish off the round and advance to another USGA event.