Hossler, Schauffele advance to quarterfinals
June 19, 2014
After Wednesday's Round of 32 Xander Schauffele said he was tired. He had come to the California Amateur Championship straight from the Sunnehanna Amateur, where he had tied for third, and jumped right into action at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa. But on Thursday he didn't look tired, as he won a tough battle against Jake Knapp of UCLA 1 up, a match that was close throughout and finally determined on the 18th hole.
"I'm getting worn out out here!" said Schauffele. "We play a pretty similar game Jake and I, he's a bit longer off the tee, but it was a really good match. I'm relieved to move on."
Schauffele got off to a fast start, collecting a birdie and a 1 up lead after the first hole of play. But Knapp came storming back, winning the next two holes to take a small lead of his own. But then Schauffele turned it on, playing the final 15 holes in 4-under-par without a blemish on his scorecard. He took a 1 up lead on the 7th hole and never looked back.
Knapp, however, provided an intense finish, never letting Schauffele get more than 2 up. A nice birdie from Knapp on the par 4, 17th hole put him one behind Schauffele heading into 18, a position that Schauffele found himself in the day before.
"I was fully prepared to go into a playoff," said Schauffele. "I had about a 15-footer from the fringe on 18 and was lucky enough to can it and avoid extra holes."
Schauffele advances to the quarterfinals, where he will face Sidney Wolf, who took out medalist Jason Anthony 2 and 1 Thursday.
Also advancing to the quarterfinals was reigning SCGA Amateur Champion Beau Hossler, who was unstoppable early in the round Thursday, carding birdies on five of his first five holes. Facing off against Shintaro Ban of San Jose, Hossler hit each of his first five greens in regulation, leaving himself with no putt longer than six feet and draining all five of them. He raced off to a 4 up lead through five and never looked back, winning 4 and 3 and setting up a quarterfinal date with Lorens Chan of UCLA.
The two other Thursday morning matches pit Paul Smith of Turlock up against Ryan Knop of Pleasanton and William Brueckner, of Walnut Creek up against Matt Hansen. The quarterfinals begin Thursday at 7:30 a.m. with the semifinals starting immediately after at 1 p.m. The 36-hole final match will take place Saturday.
Schedule of Events
Monday, June 16 - 154 players compete in stroke play. Tee times starting between 7:30-11:40 a.m. on both Champions and Legends Courses
Tuesday, June 17 - 154 players compete in stroke play. Tee times starting between 7:30-11:40 a.m. on both Champions and Legends Courses
Wednesday, June 18 - 32 competitors compete in first round of match play on Champions Course starting at 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, June 19 - 16 competitors compete in second round of match play on Champions Course starting at 7:30 a.m.
Friday, June 20 - Quarterfinal matches, followed by semifinal matches, on Champions Course starting at 7:30 a.m.
Saturday, June 21 - 36-hole final match on the Champions Course starting at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.