Cherry Hills Village, CO (Sports Network) - Stroke play medalist Bobby Wyatt
won his first-round match Wednesday at the 112th U.S. Amateur Championship.
A junior All-American at the University of Alabama, Wyatt equaled the record
for the lowest 36-hole score in stroke play with a 9-under-par.
A day later, he beat Taylor Hancock, 4 & 2 at the Cherry Hills Country Club.
Wyatt became the first medalist to win a first-round encounter since 2009.
The match was all square after the first five holes, but Wyatt won three of
the next four holes to take command. He sealed the outcome with a birdie at
the par-4, 16th hole.
"Winning the medal was a great honor and certainly something that I am proud
of," Wyatt said. "But I didn't come out to do well in stroke play and not do
well in match play."
Up next for Wyatt will be Matthew Stieger, who breezed to a 7 & 5 triumph over
Jade Scott.
Justin Thomas, an Alabama teammate of Wyatt, advanced with a 3 & 1 victory
over Barry Dyche.
Cheng-Tsung Pan, who tied for second place in stroke play, made it to the
round-of-32 with a 4 & 3 decision over Evan Bowser.
Philadelphia area native Jeff Osberg, who tied Pan in stroke play, lost to
Steven Fox, 21, of Hendersonville, Tenn., 3 & 2.
Sebastian Vazquez, the two-time reigning Mexican Amateur champion, was ousted
by Devon Purser, 4 & 3.
The second and third rounds of match play are slated for Thursday. The
quarterfinal round is Friday and semifinals Saturday, followed by the 36-hole
final Sunday.
The Sports Network