Oklahoma State University Athletics
Hunter Mahan Advances to U.S. Amateur Quarterfinals
April 15, 2003 | Cowboy Golf
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.
