U.S. Amateur: OSU golfer Talor Gooch heading into event with momentum after winning OGA stroke play championship

“Overall that was the best tournament I've ever played,” Gooch said. “Each day I was on. I didn't make many mistakes. It was one of those weeks where everything was going right for me.”

Shooting a blistering 20-under-par last week at the Jimmie Austin OU course, Gooch had only three bogeys in three rounds, all three coming in the second round.

Hitting 47 of 54 greens in regulation, Gooch shot a final round 62 after opening with a 63 sandwiched around a 68.

Next up is the U.S. Amateur, which has been won by legends like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus before they turned pro.

“There are probably 50 guys who could win this,” Gooch said. “That's a testament to Tiger Woods and what he's done for golf. If I can play like I did last week I feel I have a chance to win it.”

The U.S. Amateur features two rounds of stroke-play qualifying on two different courses Monday and Tuesday. The top 64 qualifiers are seeded. Match play will be held Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Gooch played in the 2009 U.S. Amateur. He qualified for match play but lost in the first round. But last summer Gooch reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur Public Links championship, which uses a similar format.

“In match play anything can happen, but I feel I'm a pretty strong match play player,” Gooch said. “I've had a fairly decent record in match play. Last week was viewed as a good warm up. It gives me some confidence. Me and Kelsey (Cline) feel we're as ready as we can be.”