Seiden makes trip to U.S. Amateur worthwhile

   Steve Seiden, the Strath Haven All-Delco and former Duquesne standout, was an alternate to make the field at the U.S. Amateur, which got under way Monday in Erin, Wis.
   Seiden had finished fifth in local qualifying at his new home course, Llanerch Country Club, and Rolling Green G.C. earlier this month. But he made it clear after finishing fourth at last week's Golf Association of Philadelphia Patterson Cup that if he had a chance to tee it up in a USGA event, he was going to make the trip to Wisconsin.
   Plus, some USGA folks had let it be known that it didn't appear that the 10 spots in qualifying being held open for members of the Great Britain/Ireland team in next month's Walker Cup Match were likely to be claimed, so Seiden had some hope that his No. 11 spot on the alternate list might make the field.
   If not, he said, he would root on fellow Llanerch member Jeff Osberg, who had won the qualifying medal at Llanerch and Rolling Green with two spectacular rounds, including a 2-under 69 at a Llanerch layout that was playing very tough.
   Well, Seiden did get his ticket punched Monday and outperformed Osberg by seven shots in carding a 1-over 71 at the easier of the two qualifying sites, the 6,622-yard, par-70 Blue Mound G.&C.C. Once match play begins, it will be held at the monstrous 7,760-yard, par-72 Erin Hills layout and Seiden will get his crack at that course in round 2 today.
   Seiden even finished a shot better than Andrew Mason, the Temple product who swept to the Philadelphia Open, Pennsylvania Amateur and Patterson Cup crowns in a month of brilliant golf on the local amateur scene.
   Mason had a 2-over 72 at Blue Mound and will also get his crack at Erin Hills today. Mason was the captain at Temple this spring in his final year of eligibility. He has another semester of school to complete at Temple, but the Huntingdon Valley C.C. member made it pretty clear after his Patterson Cup victory last week that he intends to remain an amateur golfer.
   Osberg struggled to a 77 at Blue Mound and he will tackle Erin Hills today.
   Holy Ghost Prep senior Chris Crawford fired a 6-over 78 at Erin Hills Monday. Crawford might not find the pressure of the scholastic postseason as daunting this fall after seeing the bright lights of the U.S. Amateur to kick off his senior season.
   The top 64 finishers after today's second round of qualifying advance to match play. Seiden is in a tie for 95th and this U.S. Amateur field is being touted as one of the most talented in recent memory.
   So while it might be a long shot for the 29-year-old to make it to match play, at least he's there to experience it and very much be a part of it. And he's sitting on a pretty good lead over Osberg when Llanerch bragging rights are discussed in the grille room over the next few months.