TicketsCINCINNATI – Make it back-to-back appearances at the U.S. Amateur match play quarterfinals for Austin Squires (Union, Ky., Ryle HS).
The former University of Cincinnati golfer knocked off a pair of players ranked in the top 40 of the world amateur rankings Thursday at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
Squires outlasted Italy's Stefano Mazzoli, ranked 37th in the world, on the 19th hole in the morning's Round of 32 and held off John Pak of Florida State 2 & 1 in the afternoon's Round of 16.
Squires rallied for the victory over Mazzoli in morning action. Trailing by three holes after No. 8, he began his comeback on the 10th hole, shooting 4-under over the next six holes while winning the 10th, 12th and 14th holes with birdies and the 15th hole by making par. A birdie on the 19th hole advanced Squires to the Round of 16.
The former Bearcat never trailed against Pak, who ranked 25th in the world. Squires grabbed the early lead with a par on the second hole. Then he made birdies on 5, 6, 9 and 10 to help build a 5-up lead through 11 holes. Pak rallied back to within 2 up after 16 holes before both players recorded par scores on the 17th hole to end the match.
Squires, who lost to the eventual U.S. Amateur champion, Viktor Hovland of Norway, in the quarterfinals of last year's event, will face Cohen Trolio of West Point, Miss., on Friday at 2:15 p.m. ET. Coverage on FS1 runs from 4-7 p.m. ET.
The quarterfinals finish by Squires a year ago marked the best result by a Bearcat at the U.S. Amateur in school history.
Overall, Squires has played in the U.S. Amateur three times. He also qualify for the event in 2017 but fell short of advancing to match play.
The former University of Cincinnati golfer knocked off a pair of players ranked in the top 40 of the world amateur rankings Thursday at the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
Squires outlasted Italy's Stefano Mazzoli, ranked 37th in the world, on the 19th hole in the morning's Round of 32 and held off John Pak of Florida State 2 & 1 in the afternoon's Round of 16.
Squires rallied for the victory over Mazzoli in morning action. Trailing by three holes after No. 8, he began his comeback on the 10th hole, shooting 4-under over the next six holes while winning the 10th, 12th and 14th holes with birdies and the 15th hole by making par. A birdie on the 19th hole advanced Squires to the Round of 16.
The former Bearcat never trailed against Pak, who ranked 25th in the world. Squires grabbed the early lead with a par on the second hole. Then he made birdies on 5, 6, 9 and 10 to help build a 5-up lead through 11 holes. Pak rallied back to within 2 up after 16 holes before both players recorded par scores on the 17th hole to end the match.
Squires, who lost to the eventual U.S. Amateur champion, Viktor Hovland of Norway, in the quarterfinals of last year's event, will face Cohen Trolio of West Point, Miss., on Friday at 2:15 p.m. ET. Coverage on FS1 runs from 4-7 p.m. ET.
The quarterfinals finish by Squires a year ago marked the best result by a Bearcat at the U.S. Amateur in school history.
Overall, Squires has played in the U.S. Amateur three times. He also qualify for the event in 2017 but fell short of advancing to match play.