EDISON, N.J. – The PGA TOUR today announced that The Barclays, the first of four events in the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedExCup, will be shortened from a 72-hole event to 54 holes, due to the impending threat of Hurricane Irene, which is forecast to move up the East Coast and into the Tri-State area on Sunday.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a state of emergency on Thursday in advance of Hurricane Irene’s arrival, which threatens to cause severe flooding and damage this weekend, and forecasters issued a hurricane warning for much of New Jersey early Friday morning.
The Barclays is being held for the first time at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, N.J.
“We weighed all the options available to us, and under normal circumstances, we would obviously prefer to complete 72 holes,” said PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem. “That’s even more true here at The Barclays, considering that this is such an important event to our players as they look to advance through the PGA Tour playoffs for the FedExCup. But these aren’t normal circumstances. We realize that ‘waiting it out’ until Hurricane Irene passes and trying to play golf on Monday or Tuesday would only add unnecessary strain to those who will be trying to help the community recover from whatever potential damage this storm causes. The safety of the community, our fans, players, sponsor guests, television partners and staff is of the utmost importance.”
Those who have purchased Sunday tickets to The Barclays 2011 will be contacted by tournament officials and given good-any-day tickets to The Barclays 2012 at The Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y., in exchange.
This marks the first time in the brief history of the FedExCup that an event has been shortened to 54 holes and the first 54-hole event since the 2009 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Reigning U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy was at TPC River Highlands using the practice facility Wednesday.

For more, check it out here

Ryan Leahey of Orange and Bernie D’Amato of Weston will both miss the cut to reach match play at the U.S. Amateur at Erin Hills and Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Erin Hills, Wisc.

Play was still going on out in Erin Hills at press time.
Leahey, who qualified out of New Haven CC, shot a 8-over-par total for 36 holes on the two courses while D’Amato, who got in as an alternate, stood at 10-over with nine holes left.

The low 64 players advanced to match play beginning today. That number at press time was even par.

Adam D’Amario shot a two-round total of 2-under 140 to win the 15th Connecticut PGA Professional Championship Tuesday being held at Shennecossett Golf Course in Groton.
D’Amario, who plays out of the Ranch GC, earned one of two spots in the 45th PGAProfessional National Championship, June 24-27, 2012, at Bayonet Black Horse in Seaside, Calif. The other is New Haven CC assistant pro William Street, who tied for second at even-par 142 with Ed Slattery (Candlewood Valley CC).
Street beat Slattery in a three-hole, sudden-death playoff for the other spot.

Cameron Wilson of Rowayton shot an even-par 72 on the 7,760-yard Erin Hills Course in Wisconsin in the opening round of the U.S. Amateur Monday. Wilson is tied for 62nd place. The top 64 players advance to match play on Wednesday.
Ryan Leahey of Orange shot a 4-over-76 at Erin Hills and Bernie D'Amato of Weston posted a 5-over-75 at Blue Mound. Both will have to go low on Tuesday to make it into match play.

Ryan Leahey is playing a practice round as I write this out in Wisconsin in preparation for the U.S. Amateur beginning Monday. The Orange resident will try to be one of the top 64 to make match play on Wednesday.

Keep it here for updates on Leahey and Bernie D'Amato of Weston, also in the field.

For more on Leahey, read about him here