UVA’s James improves in Travelers 2nd round, but misses cut with McCarthy, Kohles

By Jerry Ratcliffe

All three UVA-related golfers in Friday’s second round of the PGA’s Travelers Championship in Connecticut failed to make the cut for the weekend, but one of them had the time of his life.

Ben James, the 19-year-old, No. 1-ranked junior golfer in America, will play for Bowen Sargent’s UVA men’s golf team this fall. James received a sponsor exemption to the Travelers, and although he didn’t make the cut, the future Wahoo put forth a strong effort considering he was the lone amateur in the professional event, which featured some of the world’s best players.

“I thought I played pretty good today, can’t ever complain about an under-par round for sure,” James told Fox 61 TV after posting a 1-under-par 69 on Friday. That was two shots better than his opening round of 1-over-par 71 on Thursday.

“It was phenomenal having all the crowds out there supporting me, really special and just so blessed to have the opportunity to be here and playing the game I love,” James said afterward. “Having everyone here, my club, my family, it’s really special having everyone around. It was awesome.”

James is from Milford, Conn., where he began playing at age 4 and is now ranked the No. 1 junior in the nation by Junior Golf Scoreboard and the American Junior Golf Association.

Two other former UVA golfers also missed the cut. Denny McCarthy, coming off a great week and a tie for seventh-place finish at last weekend’s U.S. Open, finished Friday at 1-over par for the Travelers, tied for 99th with James.

Ben Kohles, another former Wahoo, tied for No. 127 after firing an even-par 70 on Friday and plus-3 over the tournament.