Florida State rising senior Jack Whaley moved one step closer to one of amateur golf's most prestigious ****** les Saturday, earning a dramatic semifinal victory to advance to the championship match of the U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club.
With the win, Whaley becomes the first Florida State golfer to reach the U.S. Amateur final since Drew Kittleson accomplished the feat in 2008 at Pinehurst. Representing England, Whaley will face Stanford's Jay Leng in Sunday's 36-hole championship match.
Whaley secured his spot in the final with a hard-fought 1-up victory over No. 8 seed Carter Loflin in the semifinals.
The Seminole standout came out strong, winning the first two holes with birdies to take an early 2-up advantage. He extended the lead to 3 up with another birdie on the sixth hole before Loflin battled back and trimmed the deficit to one at the turn.
Whaley responded with birdies on the 10th and 12th holes to regain a three-hole cushion, but Loflin refused to go away. A birdie on No. 13 and a par on No. 15 helped Loflin pull within one before he squared the match on the 17th hole.
#state
With the win, Whaley becomes the first Florida State golfer to reach the U.S. Amateur final since Drew Kittleson accomplished the feat in 2008 at Pinehurst. Representing England, Whaley will face Stanford's Jay Leng in Sunday's 36-hole championship match.
Whaley secured his spot in the final with a hard-fought 1-up victory over No. 8 seed Carter Loflin in the semifinals.
The Seminole standout came out strong, winning the first two holes with birdies to take an early 2-up advantage. He extended the lead to 3 up with another birdie on the sixth hole before Loflin battled back and trimmed the deficit to one at the turn.
Whaley responded with birdies on the 10th and 12th holes to regain a three-hole cushion, but Loflin refused to go away. A birdie on No. 13 and a par on No. 15 helped Loflin pull within one before he squared the match on the 17th hole.
#state
16 days ago
