It couldn’t have been much more dramatic last year.
Philip Barbaree came from 5 down with eight to play against Andrew Orischak in the final match to win the U.S. Junior Amateur in 37 holes. Barbaree is not in the field this week to defend his title (he exceeds the age limit, as he turned 18 before July 23), but Orischak is back looking for redemption.
But he’ll have to get through a field that includes six of the top 10 players in Golfweek/Sagarin junior boys rankings. The tournament begins July 18, with match-play commencing July 20 after the field is trimmed to the top 64 from the stroke-play portion.