TicketsUniversity of Cincinnati rising senior Austin Squires (Union, Ky./Ryle High School) met with local media Tuesday to reflect on his recent 5-day experience at the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California.
Squires' week-long stay at the nation's top amateur tournament marked the best run by a Bearcat at the U.S. Amateur in school history.
The 2017 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and two-time all-league performer began the week tying for 10th place in the 312-player two-round stroke-play portion of the U.S. Amateur.
Squires earned a 5 & 4 win over Max Theodorakis of Danbury, Connecticut, on Wednesday before advancing to the quarterfinals Thursday thanks to a pair of dramatic wins. On a day that featured 37 holes of pressure-filled golf, Squires birdied the 19th hole to upset the 45th-ranked amateur in the world, Luis Gagne of Costa Rica in the Round of 32 before outlasting Andrew Alligood of St. Johns, Florida, 1-up, with a birdie on the 18th hole for a berth in the quarterfinals.
His run came to end on Friday, Aug. 17 when he fell 7 & 6 to Viktor Hovland of Norway. The junior All-American from Oklahoma State who ranks fifth in the world amateur rankings, started fast winning seven consecutive holes after both players halved the first hole. He finished 5-under for the 12 holes played. Squires won the 10th hole with a birdie to pull within 6-down before Hovland answered with a birdie on No. 11 to regain a 7-up lead. The match ended when Squires couldn't make up ground on the 12th hole.
Hovland went on to win the U.S. Amateur two days later.
// BEARCATS FALL SEASON STARTS SOON
The Bearcats begin the 2018-19 season on Sept. 8-9 at the Rod Myers Invitational hosted by Duke. Two weeks later Cincinnati plays host to the Bearcat Invitational Sept. 24-25 at Coldstream Country Club.