OU Duo Qualifies to Match Play

July 14, 2009

NORMAN, Okla. - University of Oklahoma junior golfer Liam Logan and OU men's golf assistant Phillip Bryan have both advanced to match play at the 2009 U.S. Amateur Public Links at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman, Okla. The Sooner duo are among 64 golfers from the 156-player field that have qualified to Wednesday's first round of match play, in a format similar to March Madness and the NCAA Basketball tournament.

The duo battled temperatures reaching 105 degrees Fahrenheit for the second consecutive day, with the addition of gusty winds on Tuesday at the par-71, 7,289-yard track.

Bryan (71-75) concluded the 36-hole stroke play qualifying in a share of 23rd-place at +4 after a 4-over-par 75 on Tuesday. The Oklahoma assistant coach was five-over through eight holes following a double-bogey at the 480-yard, par-4 17th, but turned the tide with three birdies in a five-hole stretch capped off by birdie makes of less than three feet at both No. 3 and No. 4.

The stretch was ignited by a 18-foot birdie make from the front fringe of the 584-yard, par-5 18th after his approach shot had spun back off the putting surface.

"That putt definitely turned the momentum," said Bryan. "I was playing poorly on the back side and needed something to drop to get me going."

The Mustang, Okla., native couldn't convert makeable birdie attempts at the 621-yard, par-5 sixth or the par-4 seventh, but was well within the cut line despite bogeys at No. 1 and No. 8.

Bryan's consistent play on his second nine was similar to his days on the same Jimmie Austin course as a four-year starter for the Sooners, as the veteran hit six-of-seven fairways on the back nine and seven-of-eight greens.

"I thought the course was playing two or three strokes harder out there today with the wind blowing, but at the same time, I probably played two or three shots worse today as well," added Bryan. "The goal I had going in was just to get into match play and take it one day at a time. You never know what will happen in that format and I do have that advantage with this being our home course."

Official Site of the 84th U.S. Amateur Public Links
Liam Logan's Scorecard | Phillip Bryan's Scorecard

Logan tied for 32nd at +5 after following up a first-round 73 with a 74 on Tuesday afternoon. The junior-to-be rolled in a birdie putt at the lengthy par-5 No. 6 to get back to even par on his round following a bogey at the 468-yard, par-4 first hole, which has played as the most difficult on the course for the field the past two days, especially on Tuesday into the prevailing south wind.

The Fort Worth, Texas, native bogeyed No. 7 and No. 8, before sticking an approach to three feet for a birdie at the difficult par-4 11th, which yielded only 10 birdies on the day.

Logan was forced to hit sideways out of the back greenside bunker on his third shot at the par-5 13th after catching a flyer on his approach from 120-yards out of the left rough, but would convert a six footer to get up-and-down to save bogey. Logan also lost a stroke on the 281-yard, par-3 15th after his chip shot from the back of the green checked up on the downslope five feet short of the hole and again on the par-4 17th after short-siding himself in the right greenside bunker following a perfect tee shot.

He would scramble to make birdie at the par-5 18th to shoot his second straight 37 on the day, following an up-and-down from the left rough after short-siding himself for the second consecutive hole.

"I had 5-iron into the green and just hit it fat," said Logan of his play on the par-5 18th hole. "Luckily, I knew there was 20 yards of rough or so on that side of the green. That's one of the advantages of playing out here all the time, because most of the guys would think you're dead if it comes up short with the creek there."

Logan acknowledged that he wasn't a match play veteran, but was looking forward to the challenge.

"It's only the third time in my life that I'll play in a match play format and the second time was last week. I feel pretty confident about my game right now though. I'm hitting it dead straight, just not getting a whole lot to drop. I don't make big numbers, which can be an advantage and a disadvantage in this format. I'll just take it match-by-match and see where I end up."

Overnight leader Nick Taylor of Canada carded his second-straight, sub-par round with a 1-under-par 70 on Tuesday. The University of Washington golfer ended the stroke-play portion of the USGA championship at -6, earning medalist honors by four shots over a trio of golfers including OSU's Rickie Fowler.

Bryan, the 28th seed, will face Braxton Marquez (No. 37 seed) of Scottsdale, Ariz., in match No. 14 at 9:57 a.m. (CT) on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Logan (35th seed) will square off with Anders Albertson (No. 30 seed) of Woodstock, Ga., in match No. 26 at 11:45 a.m. All matches will commence on hole No. 1.

The tournament is free to the public and tickets are not needed.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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