Connor reflects on valiantUS Amateur challenge

The Drumoig player made a fine bid for success in reaching the last 64 at Oakland Hills Country Club, in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, from a starting field of over 300.

Two stroke play rounds of 70 ensured Connor progressed from the initial stages, tying for 30th spot.

And on Tuesday, he tweeted he had played “probably the best back nine of my life!”

However, in the knockout matchplay stages on Wednesday, he lost on the last hole to Indiana’s Dylan Meyer, in a tightly-fought game where both players traded the advantage.

Connor (21) told the Citizen: “I didn’t have my best stuff, so it was disappointing to lose out. As for the experience, it was absolutely amazing. The set-up out there is like nothing I’ve ever seen for an amateur event.

“It was a privilege to play in such a prestigious event and play some great golf under pressure.”

Connor added it was “cool” to find such great form on Tuesday.

“I made like a 15-footer for par on my 8th hole to keep any chance of making the cut alive, and just holed so many clutch putts and some great iron shots down the stretch that got me to the match play, finishing -3 from there in tough conditions to make it through.”