OAKMONT, Pa. (Aug. 10, 2021) – For Oklahoma Christian golfer Alejandro Armijo, Oakmont Country Club proved every bit as tough as one might expect for a course that's hosted multiple U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Championships.

Armijo, a junior from Rio Rancho, N.M., posted a 5-over-par 75 on Tuesday morning in his second qualifying round of the U.S. Amateur. Combined with his 4-over-74 posted on Monday at nearby Longue Vue Club in Verona, Armijo finished the two rounds of stroke-play qualifying at 9-over and didn't make the cut to 64 players for the match-play portion of the event.

His exact final finish in the 312-man field won't be determined until Wednesday, thanks to dangerous weather that resulted in the delay of the second round shortly after Armijo had finished playing. (EDITOR'S NOTE: After stroke play was completed, Armijo tied for 174th overall.)

The average score for the 156 players who competed at Oakmont on Monday was 77.1, perhaps casting Armijo's 75 in a better light. The 7,254-yard layout is renowned for its difficulty and Armijo quickly was reminded of that, recording bogeys on four of his first six holes before settling down and recording four straight pars.

After another bogey at No. 11 came one of his highlights. He crushed his drive on the par-5, 617-yard No. 12 and although he hit his second shot into rough right of the green, he was able to chip to within five feet and hit a birdie putt.

He bogeyed No. 13 but then saved par on the par-4 No. 14 despite hitting his first two shots into bunkers. His second and final birdie came on the 228-yard, par-3 No. 16, when he hit his tee shot to within seven feet and then made a nervy downhill putt.

Armijo made a nine-foot putt to save par on the par-4 No. 17 after hitting into a bunker, then finished off his round with a bogey on the par-4 No. 18.

He had the best score of his threesome for the two rounds, as Louisiana State senior Trey Winstead (who's No. 40 in the current World Amateur Golf Ranking) closed at 10-over and William Mitchell of Atlanta (who qualified for last month's U.S. Senior Open) finished at 15-over.

During the round, Armijo also briefly met (and got a picture with) Bones McKay, the longtime caddie for golf legend Phil Mickelson.

Armijo was only the third active OC player to qualify for the U.S. Amateur, joining current teammate Andres Brictson (2019) and current PGA Tour player Rhein Gibson (2006).