Scott Verplank

Scott Verplank, 20, of Dallas, Texas, defeated Sam Randolph, of Santa Barbara, California, 4 and 3, in the final at the Oak Tree Golf Club, in Edmond, Oklahoma. Verplank, a student at Oklahoma State University, was the medalist, with a score of 137 over the two courses at Oak Tree. Twice he had close calls in match play.

In the semifinals, he holed an eight-foot par putt on the 18th green to defeat Randy Sonnier, of Woodlands, Texas, 1-up. Against Peter Persons, of Macon, Georgia, in the quarterfinals, Verplank was 2 down after 10 holes, but he won the 11th, 12th, 15th, and 16th holes. Meanwhile, Randolph was extended to the 18th hole just once. In the first round he defeated Tom McKnight, of Galex, Virginia, 2-up. Randolph moved into the final with a surprisingly easy 7 and 5 semifinal victory over Jerry Haas, of Belleville, Illinois.

Its start delayed two hours because of rain, the final become a contrast of putting fortunes, with Verplank salvaging either halves or wins with putts ranging from four to 10 feet while Randolph missed-a half-dozen putts inside five feet. In the morning round, Randolph led, 2 up, through 16 holes, but he lost both the 17th and 18th when he missed short putts, leaving the match even at lunch.

The pattern repeated itself in the afternoon. Randolph took control with a par on the first hole as Verplank bogeyed, but as the rain began to ease, Verplank squared the match at the third, made three successive birdies beginning at the eighth hole and went ahead for the first time. His 25-foot birdie on the 15th ended the match.

Jay Sigel, of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, only the eighth man ever to win two successive U.S. Amateurs, in 1982 and 1983, lost in the first round, 3 and 1, to Rocco Mediate, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania.