Oklahoma State University Athletics
Hunter Mahan Advances to U.S. Amateur Quarterfinals
August 22, 2002 | Cowboy Golf
Aug. 22, 2002
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. - Oklahoma State's Hunter Mahan won a pair of matches on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Amateur Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club.
In the morning session, Mahan knocked off UCLA's John Merrick with a 2-and-1 victory before slipping past Washington's Conner Robbins 1-up in the third round to advance.
Against Merrick, the Cowboy junior waged a see-saw battle on the front nine with each player winning four holes after halving the first hole.
The match remained all square through the 10th hole before Mahan recorded back-to-back birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 to take a two-hole advantage. The McKinney, Texas, native built the cushion to three with a par on the 13th hole before parring the 17th hole to close out the match.
In the round of 16, Mahan squared off with Robbins, a senior for the Huskies. Mahan got off to a hot start, recording back-to-back birdies to open the match and take a 1-up advantage. Robbins squared the match on the third hole, but was never able to grab the lead.
Mahan regained the lead with a birdie on the par-4 sixth hole and took a 1-up margin to the back nine. Another birdie on the par-5 12th increased the lead to two holes.
On the 16th hole, Mahan saved par, chipping in with his 3-wood from the fringe to halve the hole and thwart Robbins' opportunity to cut his deficit in half. Robbins won the 17th with a par before Mahan closed out the match by halving the final hole for the victory.
Mahan will take on 16-year-old Henry Liaw at 2:10 p.m tomorrow for a berth in the semifinals.
