Dalke Secures Spot in U.S. Amateur Quarterfinals

NORMAN – University of Oklahoma golfer Brad Dalke advanced to the quarterfinal round of match play in the 116th U.S. Amateur on Thursday. The elite tournament is being played at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.

During Thursday morning's round of 32, Dalke, a rising sophomore, defeated recent Houston graduate Blair Hamilton 2-up to advance to the round of 16. After going back and forth all match, the pair were all square through 16. However, Dalke won the final two holes to take the match and advance.

In the round of 16, Dalke defeated Illinois rising freshman Bryan Baumgarten 1-up in 19 holes. Baumgarten took an early lead with a win on hole No. 2, but Dalke fired back with three wins of his own on the front nine to go to 2-up.

From there, Baumgarten tied the match again with wins on holes No. 13 and 14. Although Dalke took the lead with a win on 17, a bogey on 18 forced a sudden death playoff.

On the 19th hole, Dalke answered Baumgarten's bogey with a par to claim the match.

“It was another tough day,” Dalke said. “I played better, but I just had two really good opponents I went up against. Thirty-seven holes in one day is always a grind! I'm excited for the opportunity that is ahead of me, though.”

Dalke will face recent Stanford graduate David Boote in the quarterfinal round at 1:15 p.m. CT Friday. FS1 will broadcast quarterfinal matches from 2-5 p.m. CT, and more information on the U.S. Amateur can be found on the USGA's website.