Wednesday saw the end of stroke play and the beginning of match play as the field at the 111th U.S. Amateur Championship was cut to 64 golfers.

Iowa’s Ian Vandersee and Jed Dirksen were among the many who failed to reach match play.

The top 64 scores were at even par or below when round two of stroke play concluded on Wednesday. Vandersee recorded a two-day score of 9-over 151, and Dirksen finished at 150.

Dirksen played his second round Wednesday morning after play was suspended twice on Tuesday because of thunderstorms and darkness. After posting a birdie on the first hole, the Hawkeye senior bogeyed four of the next five on way to a 5-over 77.

Vandersee — who finished stroke play on Tuesday — said despite his disappointing score, he gained the confidence of knowing he belongs with some of the top college players in the country.

“I learned quite a bit,” he said. “The biggest thing being that you know that you belong at that level.”

Vandersee, a redshirt freshman, is only the second Iowa freshman to play in the U.S. Amateur since head coach Mark Hankins took over the men’s program in 2007. Current junior Ryan Marks played in the event in 2009.

“It’s always great to get a chance to play against some of the best college golfers in the country, and also the best amateurs,” Vandersee said.

— by Ben Schuff