List Starts Strong, Holds 3-Up Advantage Over Moore After 18 Holes

Mamaroneck, N.Y. - Luke List, 19, of Ringgold, Ga., never trailed and holds a 3-up lead over Ryan Moore, 21, of Puyallup, Wash., after 18 holes of the 36-hole championship match of the U.S. Amateur at Winged Foot Golf Club.  The match will continue at 1:30 p.m. (EDT).

A 2003 U.S. Open qualifier, List struck first with winning pars on holes seven and eight.  He made it a 3-up advantage with a winning par on the 12^th.  For a brief moment, he went 4 up after the No. 17, but Moore regrouped to win the last hole of the morning with a par.

Ryan Moore reacts after missing a putt for birdie on No. 5 Sunday, which would have won the hole. (John Mummert/USGA)

Both finalists earn full exemptions into the 2005 U.S. Open and have historically been invited to compete in the next Masters Tournament.  The winner also receives an exemption into the 2005 British Open.

"I expected to come in here and do well, but I guess I didn't expect to come this far," said List after winning his semifinal match on Saturday.  "Now that I have (come this far), it feels great.  Why not see if we can go all the way."

List hit eight of the last nine greens in the morning - missing only on No. 18 -- proving again to be a solid frontrunner. Through the halfway point of his sixth match, he has only trailed for a total of three holes combined.

Moore was the qualifying medalist in over 36 holes of stroke play before the field was trimmed to the top 64 scores, but he has had to come from behind in four of his five previous matches.  However, he was never as many as 4 down until Sunday morning.  He's been the best player in amateur golf this summer, winning the 2004 NCAA Division I championship, the U.S. Amateur Public Links and the Western Amateur. 

He qualified for the 2002 U.S. Open and made the cut at the 2003 Masters.  The last two stroke play medalists to win the Amateur were Tiger Woods in 1996 and Phil Mickelson in 1991.  His match play record in all USGA championships combined (seven) is now 26-4.

"My game has been real solid," said Moore earlier.  "Since last October, I've been real consistent.  On a golf course like this, that's what you want to do."

Moore has played 39 of his last 41 competitive stroke play rounds at par or better.

Past winners of the Amateur include greats Bob Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.  Woods was a three-time winner from 1994-96. 

The Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.