NORMAN, Okla. — LSU sophomore-to-be Sang Yi saw his remarkable run at the 2009 United States Amateur Public Links Championship come to an end Friday morning with a defeat at the hands of No. 6 seed Brad Benjamin of Rockford, Ill., in the quarterfinal round at Jimmie Austin Golf Club.
Yi, the tournament’s No. 14 seed in the match play competition, fell to sixth-seeded Brad Benjamin from Rockford, Ill., by a 5 & 3 margin at the par-72 course at the University of Oklahoma.
Yi earned a spot in Friday’s quarterfinal with a 7 & 5 win over No. 51 seed of Ricky Jones of Thomaston, Maine, in the first round on Wednesday, a 6 & 5 win over No. 46 seed Federico Damus of Argentina in the second round on Thursday and a 1-up win over No. 3 seed Jace Long of Dixon, Mo., on Thursday.
A native of Carrollton, Texas, Yi has enjoyed an outstanding summer as he has captured a pair of titles at at the Gateway Professional Tour Summer Series tournment held in Lewisville, Texas, on June 28 and the Spirit of America Amateur Championship in Decatur, Ala., on July 6. He is fresh off a freshman season in which he was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team for his outstanding performance.
He will now attempt to qualify for a spot in this year’s United States Amateur Championship a week from now on July 23 as the 110th edition of the nation’s most prestigious amateur championship will be held on Aug. 24-30 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.