PARAMUS, N.J. – Stewart Hagestad was modest when asked about his 6-and-4 drumming of incoming Virginia freshman Benjamin James on Thursday morning at The Ridgewood Country Club.
“I played well,” said Hagestad as he plated some lunch, which he’d have a little extra time to consume – thanks to his quick work of James – before he’d head back out for his 2:30 p.m. match against Australia’s Hayden Hopewell in the Round of 16 of the U.S. Amateur.
It wasn’t that James played poorly, it’s just Hagestad, the two-time U.S. Mid-Amateur champion and three-time Walker Cupper, was nearly flawless.