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U.S. Amateur Blog
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Halfway
OK, we have reached the halfway point. Nip and tuck. Knost leads but Thompson has been right there. Heading into the afternoon, Knost probably needs to control his emotional state a little more. He's become more animated with each shot gone awry or off line. Heading up for lunch, he wasn't pleased.
"It's the worst I've
played all week," said Knost. "I have to go back to the range and figure it out."
Over the last nine holes, Knost located 5-of-8 fairways and 6-of-10 greens. He took 15 putts. Thompson's stats: 6-of-8 and 6-of-10 with 15 putts. However, he conceded the 18th after sending his approach into jungle-like rough on a sidehill. A bad lie and an awkward stance later, and Thompson couldn't get out. He eventually conceded the hole because Knost hit his approach tight to 6 feet.
Ken
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Knost
So what would you do if you were Colt Knost? After wrapping up his U.S. Amateur Public Links victory in July, he earned a spot in next year's Masters. After making it to the finals in the Amateur, he earned exemptions into next year's U.S. Open. Knost, though, won't leak any decisions he might have about turning pro, although it's clear in his words that he'd like to leave his amateur status in the rear-view mirror. The enticements, of course, for remaining an amateur are the two carrots: stay and know you're playing in the first two majors next year. Turn pro and give up the Masters and perhaps the Open, unless he qualifies.
As Michael Thompson said yesterday, he wouldn't want to be in Knost's shoes. Of course, there are worse things to worry about.
Ken
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Saturday, August 25, 2007
Inspiring
Seeing Michael Thompson engulfed by his father's arms after winning Saturday was a moving moment. Sharing a cart ride up to the clubhouse afterward, I asked Thompson what his dad said to him. "He told me how proud he was of me," he said.
Twenty minutes later I found his dad to gauge his emotion. It seems Mr. Thompson has it all down right. He said that he and his wife, Beth, are merely witnesses to their son's dreams. This is one of them. To see him on the cusp of seeing it through made both of them "honored."
Dad said they never pushed him into golf; Thompson discovered it himself. But they did tell all of their children that whatever dream they wanted to follow, they'd support it 100 percent. More here.
Ken
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Playing
Brrr, chilly morning today. Overcast. Still better than fog.
Ken
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Friday, August 24, 2007
Olson
I always feel a bit empathetic toward the players who lose at this stage of the Amateur, or any other match play event for that matter. You always have some surprises that stay alive. It's about this time that they really start believing their abilities, that maybe they might have a shot at winning it all.
Eddie Olson was one of those guys today. He's a talented player. He admittedly didn't play well. After losing he walked off the green holding the brim of his hat. Well-wishers shook his hand and with each shake, his grip got firmed up. He was emotional and bothered that he lost, but he took it in stride. He echoed many other sentiments when he said how tough it was to get this far and lose. He worked so hard.
You had to feel for the guy. Quotes fueled by raw emotion are always the best for reporters, but sometimes you have to stand back and realize they're only human.
Ken
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Good Story
Amanda Bruski is caddieing for Derek Fathauer this week. What makes it interesting is that she also caddied for Fathauer at the U.S. Amateur Public Links this past July at Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill. She caddies at Catigny. Fathauer apparently asked her to come this week to Olympic.
Ken
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Thursday, August 23, 2007
Reverse Nerves
Casey Clendenon had just won his third-round match against Andrew Putnam, 4 and 3, when he walked off the 15th hole and into the path of The Golf Channel camera. He didn't profess to have any nerves during his match but when the on-air reporter wanted to get a few comments, Clendenon froze. The rush of being on television probably accounted for newly born butterflies. But Clendenon handled the interview with aplomb. Asked what he was thinking after going 3 up after the sixth hole, Clendenon said, "I was telling myself after going 3 up, 'Just stay patient.'"
And he did. Now in his first U.S. Amateur, at the age of 22, the product of Lamar University has advanced the furthest he's ever been in a USGA championship. He made it into the second round of the 2001 and 2002 U.S. Junior Amateurs.
Ken
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Zahringer
Someone mentioned in the blog that George Zahringer should be watched. Totally agree. The guy might be in his early 50s but he's got guile and moxie to play with anyone in the field here. He's not as long as a lot of the younger guys, but he's consistent. Most of all, he's a competitor that doesn't give up easily.
Sorry to talk in cliches.
Ken
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An Underdog
It's hard not to cheer for underdogs. In the case of the Amateur, Kyle Dickey might be considered one. After being part of a team that won the NJCAA Division III National Championship in 2004, Dickey felt burned out. So he walked away.
But golf is one of those addictive loves that can't be shaken. Two years later Dickey was prodded to play by a few buddies. He took it slow, then discovered a renewed passion. He took time to work on his game before jumping back into the competitive arena.
Watching him play, he's intense and focused. You can see the fire in his eyes. He said after beating Nathan Tyler that he just wanted to keep going. He didn't want to place any expectations on himself other than to play well.
And to enjoy the experience.
Ken
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Surviving
Today is a battle of attrition. Two rounds of match play golf is taxing, both mentally and physically. Outside of blisters and the like, my belief is that the mental side is more grueling. To be able to stay in the moment shot after shot has to affect focus. In many ways, the strongest mental player will win. Don't get me wrong, talent also goes a long way.
Ken
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Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Observations
Can't get enough of the aesthetics while on the course. On many holes you can see the city skyline, and if it's clear enough, the Golden Gate Bridge can be seen from afar. The course is hilly, no doubt about that. Not really a tough walk if one compares it to Whistling Straits or Bandon Dunes. If you're in the market for a sprained ankle, I'd prescribe the two latter ones.
It's easy to be fooled by the cool, light air as well. Temperatures hover in the upper 60s or mid-70s when the sun comes out. But that sun is still dangerous if you're not wearing sunscreen.
It was a pleasant surprise to see the swelled gallery. Most were there to take in the Joseph Bramlett or Randy Haag matches. Both have ties to the club. But many stayed around to watch other matches.
I am still amazed at Tiger Woods' dominance in this event. For my money, the U.S. Amateur is one of the toughest competitions to win in all of sports. It ranks up there with winning the Stanley Cup or NCAA basketball championship. Just my opinion.
West coast sunsets are absolutely majestic. Just another idle thought.
Ken
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Bramlett
Solid match between Joseph Bramlett and Chris Kirk. For a good part of the match I thought Bramlett, a junior member at The Olympic Club, would trounce Kirk.
Kirk just didn't strike the ball well out of the gate. However, he had about 10 minutes to warm up. But he scrambled and grinded his way to the win in 19 holes. Bramlett hid a bump on the 17th hole when, his ball trapped in gnarly rough near the green, couldn't move it. It led to a double bogey. On 18, Kirk gave it back when he stared down at a plugged ball in a greenside bunker. He needed two shots to get out, and by then they were staring at extra holes.
Bramlett suddenly got wild off the tee. He pushed his ball far right into deep junk, then stayed right. He couldn't get up and down.
Match over.
Ken
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Playoff
Oh, a 16-for-7 playoff. This could take a few minutes.
Sorry to see Cory Whitsett, the 15-year-old Junior Amateur champion miss the cut. He tripled his final hole to fall out.
Ken
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Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Schedule Of Play
Play will begin at 7:30 a.m. PDT Wednesday after it was called due to darkness Tuesday. The first round of match play is tentatively sheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Ken
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All Alone
He trudged up to the 18th green at the Lake Course burdened more by the urgency of making a birdie than carrying his own golf bag. There are still a few players who compete in top amateur tournaments without a caddie, and Jon Curran, an All-American from the University of Vanderbilt, hasn’t found himself handicapped by going solo all summer.
“I just didn’t feel the need,” said Curran, 20, of Hopkinton, Mass. “I think I’ve done OK. I can’t say it would have made much of a difference at any place I’ve played.”
Curran, playing in his second U.S. Amateur, finished tied for third at the Monroe Invitational and fifth at the Porter Cup among his handful of tournament starts before competing this week at Olympic Club. His 12-foot birdie at Olympic’s famed short 18th hole gave him a 4-over 74 and 147 total after he played the first five holes of his second round in five over par.
If he should make it to match play, Curran planned to have a friend from Seattle fly in Wednesday morning and caddie for him the rest of the week. “He’s just a good friend more than a caddie,” Curran said. “If I get to match play, it could get tiring. It’d be nice just to have someone to talk to. But we’ll see what happens.”
Dave Shedloski
Freelance Writer
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