Notebook: Nallen Prunes Rose

By Stuart Hall

Mamaroneck, N.Y. -- Dayton Rose has a ritual where he cuts his fingernails nearly to the quick a day before leaving for a tournament.

Friday at the U.S. Amateur Championship, Chris Nallen made sure there was no need for nail-biting. Nallen posted the largest win of the four quarterfinal matches, a 6 and 5 victory over Rose at Winged Foot Country Club's West Course to advance to Saturday's semifinal against Luke List, a 3 and 2 winner over Danny Green.

Nallen has made the turn 4 up in three of his first four matches this week. His mantra this week is "show no mercy."

"He did play great," said Rose of Nallen, who was 2 under through 13 holes. "If you can go 1 under for how many ever holes on this course, you're playing well. He's really consistent, hits his drives straight and then has a really good feel around the green."

Rose, just four days shy of his 22nd birthday, is a rising senior at Oklahoma State and is no stranger to the growing pressure of U.S. Golf Association championships. Rose reached the finals of the U.S. Amateur Public Links each of the last two years.

Nallen, 22, just completed his senior season at the University of Arizona, where he was the 2004 Pac 10 Conference Player of the Year. He tied for second at the 2004 NCAA Championships and was also a member of the 2003 U.S. Walker Cup team.

The outcome of Saturday's match could go a long way toward determining Nallen's immediate future. A berth in Sunday's 36-hole final earns him an exemption into next year's Masters and U.S. Open. A semifinal loss, though, may tempt him to turn pro and make an accelerated run at earning his PGA Tour card through sponsor exemptions.

"I'm going to probably talk with a lot of people," said Nallen. "Hopefully I cross that bridge, and I have a lot of great guys who are a good support group. I'll talk to my dad, he's my biggest supporter and I kind of lean on him for all of my decisions."

Nallen, of Hackettstown, N.J. by way of being born in Queens, was sporting a N.Y. Rangers baseball cap against Rose. The prospect of winning this championship so close to his roots is a goal Nallen has been working toward throughout the summer.

"It's been three months of real dedication and hard work," said Nallen. "I've enjoyed the other tournaments I've played in, the other amateur tournaments . [but] to get my name on that trophy would be just a dream come true."

Despite losing to Nallen, by reaching the quarterfinals Rose is exempt into next year's U.S. Amateur at Merion Country Club in Merion, Pa.

As for the fingernails?

"If my fingernails are too long underneath my glove, it tends to dig into my skin," said Rose.

Friday, Nallen dug in and never let go.

Taking 'Em Down

Luke List is quickly becoming the giant killer of the 104th U.S. Amateur.

List, a 19-year-old rising sophomore at Vanderbilt University, defeated 1994 U.S. Am finalist and two-time Walker Cup member Trip Kuehne 2 and 1 in Thursday's second round.

Luke List, chipping on the fourth hole Friday, has become a giant killer of sorts this week. (John Mummert/USGA)

In Friday's quarterfinal, List knocked off 29-time USGA Championship participant and 1999 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion Danny Green, 3 and 2. At last year's U.S. Public Links Amateur, List played with Green during the match play qualifier and came away thinking how tough the 47-year-old Green would be in match play.

"Because you look at the guy and you're like there's no way he can lose, he's such a great player," said List. "He's 47, but has the heart of a 19-year-old."

After a see-saw front nine in which List never trailed, he made par at the par-4 ninth to build a 2-up lead that he never relinquished. List birdied the par-4 13th to go 3 up, then lost the par-4 15th with a bogey. A birdie at the par-4 16th - List's fifth of the afternoon - sealed the match. List will attempt to pick off the red-hot Nallen in Saturday's semifinal.

Nallen, a nearby product who himself is a former U.S. Walker Cup member, has been chalking up lopsided wins this week. He knows little about List.

"From what I've heard, he's a good player," said Nallen. "I've never played with him, but obviously he wouldn't be here if he wasn't any good."

List's performance to date speaks well for his ability to handle the rigors of the arduous Amateur format.

"Danny is probably one of the most accomplished amateurs ever," said List. "When you step on the first tee, though, no matter who you are, you just have to throw it out the window and just kind of play golf."

List, the youngest of the remaining four players, is not intimidated by what Nallen has achieved to this point. In fact, Nallen should maybe be the one looking over his shoulder.

"I'm right there," said List. "If I make some birdies, some pars are always good in match play. You just never know."

Just ask Kuehne and Green.

Stuart Hall is a writer for the Golf Press Association.