University of Colorado Athletics
Knight attempts to hit a green on Tuesday
Knight Advances In U.S. Amateur
August 11, 2026 | Men's Golf
Buff senior heads into match play; sophomore Long just misses
ARDMORE, Pa. – The third time was the proverbial charm for University of Colorado senior Brandon Knight, who advanced Tuesday into the match play portion of the 126th Annual U.S. Amateur.
The first two days featured stroke play to narrow the 312-man field down to 64 for match play. Contested at Merion Golf Club and co-host Philadelphia Country Club, Knight is currently tied for 33rd in turning in a 1-over par 69-72—141 scorecard. The cut was 3-over par, though Knight's sophomore teammate, Tyler Long, played well, he just missed advancing with a 7-over 74-73—147 effort (he bogeyed three of the last four holes pressing hard to advance). Knight played Merion first – the course that will host the match play, while Long played it Tuesday.
Knight is tied with 21 others and won't know where he is seeded until seven players finish their rounds first thing Wednesday, which will follow with a playoff as at present, 18 players are tied for the final 10 match play slots.
Knight recorded four birdies, 27 pars and five bogeys in the 88-degree heat and humidity in the Philadelphia suburbs. He first competed the event prior to enrolling at CU in 2023, missing the cut into the final 64 with a 77-74—151 score at Cherry Hills Country Club. In 2024, he turned in a 73-70—143 effort at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn., missing advancing by a single stroke.
Associate head coach Derek Tolan is with Knight in Pennsylvania – in fact, he is caddying for him.
"I'm super happy and excited to be advancing into match play," Knight said. "Merion is an awesome venue to host the U.S. Am – it's been a blast. I learned a lot from my first two experiences in the Am and definitely applied those to help me this week.
"My game is in a great spot," he continued. "I had to grind a bit today, but thanks to my stud of a caddy – Derek Tolan -- we were able to pull it out. Can't wait to make a run!"
"I texted coach (Roy Edwards) last night that and relayed that he has got better since I watched him play last," Tolan said. "He's just a better player now than he was even a few months ago. Ultimately his toughness and composure are what got him through to match play."
Knight is the 12th Buffalo to advance into match play since the late Dale Douglass did in 1959 (who was eliminated in the third round). Dylan McDermott ('25) is the only CU golfer to make it into the match competition twice, doing so in 2023 and 2024.
NOTES: Liberty University senior Joshua Ryan was the medalist in the field, claiming the honor by two shots with a 67-65—132 score … Long had five birdies, 20 pars, 10 bogeys and one double bogey; he tied for 160th but still beat 128 others, including several top collegians … Other Buffs who qualified after stroke play have included Steve Jones (1980), Terry Kahl (1981), Matt Potter (1987), Jonathan Kaye and Scott Petersen (1992), Ben Portie (2001), Justin Bardgett (2009), David Oraee (2015), Justin Biwer (2022). Potter, Oraee and Biwer all won two matches, reaching the round of 16 before being eliminated, while Jones, Kaye and Petersen won one match before falling … Oraee's 67-67—134 card in 2015 is CU's best effort in the stroke portion, earning him the No. 2 seed … Knight's 141 tied for the third best 36-hole trek by a Buff … There was no stroke play from 1973 through 1978; in that last year, two Buffaloes lost in the first round, Mark Crabtree and Tom Lee … Next up are five days of match play leading up to the 36-hole championship match at Merion on Sunday, August 16.
The first two days featured stroke play to narrow the 312-man field down to 64 for match play. Contested at Merion Golf Club and co-host Philadelphia Country Club, Knight is currently tied for 33rd in turning in a 1-over par 69-72—141 scorecard. The cut was 3-over par, though Knight's sophomore teammate, Tyler Long, played well, he just missed advancing with a 7-over 74-73—147 effort (he bogeyed three of the last four holes pressing hard to advance). Knight played Merion first – the course that will host the match play, while Long played it Tuesday.
Knight is tied with 21 others and won't know where he is seeded until seven players finish their rounds first thing Wednesday, which will follow with a playoff as at present, 18 players are tied for the final 10 match play slots.
Knight recorded four birdies, 27 pars and five bogeys in the 88-degree heat and humidity in the Philadelphia suburbs. He first competed the event prior to enrolling at CU in 2023, missing the cut into the final 64 with a 77-74—151 score at Cherry Hills Country Club. In 2024, he turned in a 73-70—143 effort at Hazeltine National in Chaska, Minn., missing advancing by a single stroke.
Associate head coach Derek Tolan is with Knight in Pennsylvania – in fact, he is caddying for him.
"I'm super happy and excited to be advancing into match play," Knight said. "Merion is an awesome venue to host the U.S. Am – it's been a blast. I learned a lot from my first two experiences in the Am and definitely applied those to help me this week.
"My game is in a great spot," he continued. "I had to grind a bit today, but thanks to my stud of a caddy – Derek Tolan -- we were able to pull it out. Can't wait to make a run!"
"I texted coach (Roy Edwards) last night that and relayed that he has got better since I watched him play last," Tolan said. "He's just a better player now than he was even a few months ago. Ultimately his toughness and composure are what got him through to match play."
Knight is the 12th Buffalo to advance into match play since the late Dale Douglass did in 1959 (who was eliminated in the third round). Dylan McDermott ('25) is the only CU golfer to make it into the match competition twice, doing so in 2023 and 2024.
NOTES: Liberty University senior Joshua Ryan was the medalist in the field, claiming the honor by two shots with a 67-65—132 score … Long had five birdies, 20 pars, 10 bogeys and one double bogey; he tied for 160th but still beat 128 others, including several top collegians … Other Buffs who qualified after stroke play have included Steve Jones (1980), Terry Kahl (1981), Matt Potter (1987), Jonathan Kaye and Scott Petersen (1992), Ben Portie (2001), Justin Bardgett (2009), David Oraee (2015), Justin Biwer (2022). Potter, Oraee and Biwer all won two matches, reaching the round of 16 before being eliminated, while Jones, Kaye and Petersen won one match before falling … Oraee's 67-67—134 card in 2015 is CU's best effort in the stroke portion, earning him the No. 2 seed … Knight's 141 tied for the third best 36-hole trek by a Buff … There was no stroke play from 1973 through 1978; in that last year, two Buffaloes lost in the first round, Mark Crabtree and Tom Lee … Next up are five days of match play leading up to the 36-hole championship match at Merion on Sunday, August 16.
Players Mentioned
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