Will Another Cinderella Emerge At Historic Cherry Hills?

The last two times the USGA has visited Cherry Hills Country Club, the venerable Colorado facility has produced Cinderella stories. Nobody will ever forget Birdie Kim’s remarkable hole-out from a greenside bunker on the 72nd hole to win the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open as a stunned 17-year-old amateur, Morgan Pressel stood dumbfounded back in the fairway.

When the USGA returned seven years later, Steven Fox emerged as the U.S. Amateur champion, rallying for a 37-hole victory to become just the second No. 63 seed to win a USGA title since seeding began in 1985 (Jensen Castle became the third in 2021).

Will a similar storyline follow when the U.S. Amateur returns to historic Cherry Hills in mid-August? Remember, this is a place where Arnold Palmer carded a final-round 65 to rally from seven back in the 1960 U.S. Open. It’s also where Andy North registered the first of his two U.S. Open titles (1978 and 1985).