Official Website Of The 2007 U.S. Amateur

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1988

Eric Meeks

Eric Meeks, 23, of Walnut, California, defeated Danny Yates of Atlanta, 7 and 6, in the final, played over the Cascades Course of the Virginia Hot Springs Golf and Tennis Club.

Tom McKnight of Galax, Virginia, earned the qualifying medal at five-under-par 137, one stroke better than Meeks. McKnight was eliminated in the first round by David Lind-of Chicago, runner-up in the 1987 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2 and 1.

Meeks did not have an easy path to the final. He was extended to the 18th hole or beyond in four matches. He defeated Randy Haag of Danville, California, 1 up, in the first round. After a 4-and-3 victory over Fred Benton of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, in his second match, Meeks eliminated two-time U.S. Amateur champion Jay Sigel on the 21st hole.

Meeks then edged University of Arizona teammate Robert Gomez of Las Vegas, Nevada, and David Toms of Bossier City, Louisiana, 1 up, to gain his place in the final. Yates had a much easier time in his half of the draw. None of his matches reached the 18th hole until the semifinal round, where Doug Martin of Van Buren, Ohio, the 1984 U.S. Junior Amateur champion, stretched Yates to the 18th before Yates eliminated him, 1 up.

Meeks gained an early advantage in the 36-hole final, winning the first four holes with two birdies and two pars, but Yates won the sixth, seventh and eighth and was just one down through nine. Meeks then won the 12th through the 15th holes and was 5 up through 17. He lost the 18th when he three-putted, but still held a four-hole lead after the morning round.

The afternoon round began in the same fashion as the morning round.

Meeks won the first six holes and was 10 up with 12 to play. Yates again fought back, winning the eighth with a birdie and the 10th and 11th with pars. The 12th was halved with pars to end the match. The USGA accepted a record 4,320 entries for the championship.

Championship Facts

U.S. Amateur

PAR AND YARDAGE – The Lakeside Course at The Olympic Club will play at 6,948 yards and par 35-35—70. The Ocean Course at The Olympic Club, which will be used for the first two days of stroke play only, will play at 6,786 yards and par 35-35—70.

THE OLYMPIC CLUB – Sam Whiting, a former English professor at the University of California at Berkley, designed the Lakeside Course, which opened in 1927. Whiting also supervised construction on the Ocean Course. Following completion of the jobs, Whiting stayed on as golf course superintendent until 1954. Tom Weiskopf worked on the recently completed re-design of the Ocean Course.

TICKETS AVAILABLE – Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.ticketweb.com. Daily tickets are $15 and a weekly pass is $60. Other ticket options are also available. Children 12 and under are admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult.

COURSE SETUP – The Lakeside Course at the Olympic Club will be set for green speeds of approximately 11 feet, 6 inches on the Stimpmeter. The primary rough will be grown to 4 inches, with a strip of intermediate rough cut to 1½ inches in height. Poa annua grass covers the greens. The fairways are a rye and poa annual grass combination. The roughs also have a bit of bluegrass mixed in.

USGA SLOPE RATING® AND COURSE RATING™ – The Lakeside Course at the Olympic Club will carry a USGA Course Rating™ of 74.8 and a USGA Slope Rating® of 143. The Ocean Course will carry a USGA Course Rating™ of 74.0 and a USGA Slope Rating® of 136. An "average" Slope Rating in the U.S. is about 113.

TOTAL ENTRIES – The USGA accepted 7,398 entries for the 2007 U.S. Amateur. The most entries ever received for an Amateur championship was 7,920 in 1999 when the U.S. Amateur was played at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.

WHO CAN ENTER – The U.S. Amateur Championship is open to amateur golfers who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 2.4.


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