Mile Russell of Jacksonville Beach easily qualified for match play in the U.S. Junior Amateur on Tuesday at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Russell struggled on the back nine of the South Course with a 4-over 39 but thanks to a fast start, he had enough birdies banked for a 71 and a two-round total of 1-under 139, tied for 12th. Russell shot 68 in the first round on the North Course.
Russell birdied his first three holes and four of his first five to all but sew up a spot in the 64-player field for match play. His first-round opponent will be determined on Wednesday after a 13-for-four playoff among those tied at 4-over.
Russell had three bogeys, three birdies and an eagle on the par-4 first hole in the first round.
Blades Brown is the medalist at 6-under 134.
Charlie Woods struggles
Charlie Woods, the son of Tiger Woods, didn’t come close to qualifying after an 82 in the first round. He had an 80 in the second round and tied for 240th at 22-over par.
Two other First Coast players failed to reach match play. Phillip Dunham of Ponte Vedra Beach shot 71-74–145 and finished in a tie for 70th and Ryan Houck of Jacksonville came in 86-78–164 and tied for 253rd.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Miles Russell birdies first three holes on the way to match play berth
