Yip Doesn’t Flinch, Moves On To Quarterfinal

By Alex Miceli

Ardmore, Pa. -- Merion was a difficult test for both Ryan Yip, a senior at Kent State University, and Walker Cupper Brian Harman.

Ryan Yip tries to get a read on the green during his victory over Brian Harman. (John Mummert/USGA)

So hard that it took Yip a 5-foot bogey on the 18^th hole to win the match 1 up and move on to Friday’s quarterfinal round against Dillon Dougherty.

Yip, one of seven Canadians that made it into match play and one of three playing in the third round, made the most of his first U.S. Amateur  appearance and doggedly pursued Harman, never letting him get too far in front.

"I have a lot of fuel left," said Yip, who carries his own bag. "In college we work out a lot. I feel like I’m in great shape. I don’t think it will be a disadvantage at all."

Neither player ever had more than a 1-up lead with half of the holes all square. But neither scored particularly well, with Yip shooting the equivalent of 4-over 74 and Harman a 5-over 75.

When Harman bogeyed the 15^th hole, missing a short putt, the match again was squared for the third time. Neither player could make a move until the 18^th.  With Yip first to hit on the 505-yard par-4 hole, Yip tried to lean on one and went over the top of his drive. The ball sailed left into the trees. It had no real chance of getting to the hole on his second shot, as his ball sat in the rough more than 200 yards away.

Harman, the 2002 U.S. Junior champion made the first of two fundamental errors on the 18^th.  With Yip in the rough left, Harman missed the fairway right. While he had a better look at the green, the hole was cut on the right side over a bunker and left Harman with a difficult approach.

Yip played first and hit his shot short right of the green, but in the fairway with just a short pitch left.  Harman made his second error, not getting the ball out of the rough on the right side and leaving himself a difficult pitch over the bunker. He could not control his third shot ran across the green and was left with a chip shot from behind the green.

Yip put his third shot right in the middle of the green with a 20-footer left for par.  After Harman hit his chip shot 8 feet past the hole, Yip tried to close out the match, but hit it past by 5 feet. 

Now Harman needed to make his putt for bogey and wait to see what Yip would do. But as he had done on numerous holes on the back nine, Harman missed the 8 footer and took his cap off expecting Yip to make his putt.

"You can understand why Tiger Woods counts this as a major victory, because this feels like a major out here with, this media center and all of the people around. It really feels like a major atmosphere, and I've been to a major tournament before watching," said Yip. "You kind of get that feeling out there, just trying to grind you’re a way around and make pars, that's what major championships are about, just making pars."

Now Yip must play Dillon Dougherty a senior at Northwestern University. He is not looking beyond that.

"I'm just taking it one step at a time and one match at a time," said Yip.  "Hopefully that will happen, but I'm not looking that far ahead.  I'm looking at my match tomorrow, how I can prepare and be ready for that match tomorrow."

Alex Miceli is a free-lance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.usamateur.org.