NORMAN, Okla. — LSU’s rising sophomore Sang Yi has been impressive while dominating the summer golf circuit, and he has continued his outstanding play this week as he has advanced to the quarterfinals of the United States Amateur Public Links Championship at Jimmie Austin Golf Club in Norman, Okla.
Yi, who qualified for the match play competition as the No. 14 seed after firing a 36-hole score of 2-over par 144 in stroke play qualifying on Tuesday, advanced to the Elite Eight with a thrilling 1-up win against University of Missouri freshman and No. 3 seed Jace Long on Thursday afternoon.
With the win, Yi has earned the right to compete in the quarterfinal round on Friday morning at 7:45 a.m. CT against No. 6 seed Brad Benjamin of Rockford, Ill.
Yi took a quick 1-up lead over Long after making par on the par-four first hole before pushing his lead to 2-up following a birdie on the par-four third hole. But Long struck back with a birdie on the par-five fifth and a par on the par-three sixth holes to square the match. It remained all square heading to the back nine when Long took his first lead of the match at 1-up after making birdie on the par-four 10th.
The seesaw battle continued as Yi squared the match with a par at hole No. 12 before regaining the lead at 1-up after making par at No. 14. After Long pulled even with a par at the 15th hole, Yi responded with a par at the par-four 17th before closing out the match with a birdie at the par-five 18th.
Yi is playing as well as anyone in the field after opening the match play competition with a dominating 7 and 5 win over No. 51 seed Ricky Jones of Thomaston, Maine, in the first round. He then followed with a crushing 6 and 5 victory over No. 46 seed Federico Damus of Argentina in the second round Thursday.
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship is arguably the most prestigious amateur tournament in the country sponsored by the United States Golf Association outside of the U.S. Amatuer.
The winner of this year’s U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship will earn an exemption to compete in the 2010 Masters Tournament to be held at Augusta National Golf Club next April. The tradition of awarding the champion of the U.S. Amateur Public Links a Masters exemption was first adopted in 1989.
84th U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship ? – Quarterfinals
1 Nick Taylor, Canada vs. Wesley Bryan, Chapin, S.C., 7 a.m.
2 Sam Lyons, Myrtle Beach, S.C. vs. Phillip Bryan, Norman, Okla., 7:15 a.m.
3 Brandon Crick, McCook, Neb. vs. Eddie Olson, Aptos, Calif., 7:30 a.m.
4 Sang Yi, Carrollton, Texas vs. Brad Benjamin, Rockford, Ill., 7:45 a.m.
Schedule of Play
Friday, July 17 ? Quarterfinals, match play (18 holes), Semifinals, match play (18 holes)
Saturday, July 18 ? Final, match play (36 holes)