36-Year-Old Texan Massa and Iowa Hawkeye Kent Among Quarterfinalists at U.S. Amateur

CHASKA, Minn. - Looking to become the first mid-amateur golfer to claim the U.S. Amateur Championship since Minnesota's John Harris won the 1993 championship at the age of 41, Texan Bobby Massa picked up a pair of victories Thursday at Hazeltine National Golf Club to advance to the quarterfinal round of the 124th U.S. Amateur.

After defeating Thailand's Ratchanon Tk Chantananuwat during the Round of 32, the 36-year-old Massa needed extra holes during his match against Canadian Ashton McCulloch during Thursday's afternoon session, sinking a 25-footer on the fifth playoff hole to secure his spot in the quarterfinals.

“Very nice to see that one go in after the others kind of burnt the edge,” Massa said after advancing Thursday. “Just couldn't seem to get the reads right. I felt like I was pure and I was hitting it good. I just couldn't quite get the read right.

“I think the last one I had in regulation or my last match maybe, so I knew it broke a little more than it looked, and it just happened to find the bottom.”

Massa, who hails from Dallas, posted a 3-under 67 during his opening round at Chaska Town Course before qualifying for match play with his round of 73 at Hazeltine to earn the tournament's No. 23 seed.

Edging Duke University's Luke Sample, 2 and 1, to open the match play portion of the championship Wednesday before earning two victories Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals in his second appearance at the championship.

“I just don't play a whole bunch,” Massa said. “I have a family at home. Any chance I get to travel, it's going to be a big event. This is the biggest one you can play as an amateur, so this is why I'm one here.”

Massa will face Spain's Jose Luis Ballester, who enters the week as the world's 10th-ranked amateur, during his quarterfinal match.

Also looking to crack the history books this week is 19-year-old Oklahoma State University golfer Ethan Fang, who could become the only 64th-ranked player to ever win a USGA championship.

“I've got the game. Short game's been real good this tournament,” said Fang, who is competing in his first U.S. Amateur this week. “As long as I stay dialed, it should be pretty good.

“I mean, honestly, as long as you get to match play, anyone can win it. It doesn't really matter what seed you are. It's pretty cool I'm the 64 seed. Just the underdog coming in and see if we can win it.”

During his opening round Wednesday, Fang defeated stroke-play medalist Jimmy Ellis, 2-up, before sending home University of South Carolina golfer Zach Adams, 2 and 1.

Facing France's Bastien Amat during the Round of 16, Fang took a 1-up lead with a birdie at the par-5 seventh and never looked back, hanging on for the victory, 2-up.

Fang earned the final qualifying spot early Wednesday following a 14-for-11 playoff after two rounds of stroke play.

Among the others advancing Thursday, University of Iowa's Noah Kent was the first to clinch his spot in the quarterfinal round, closing out his match against University of Tennessee-Chattanooga senior Garrett Engle, 4 and 2.

“I didn't get off to a good start at all, but I knew it was close, and then I got hot at [Chaska Town Course],” said Kent, who posted a 5-over 77 during his first round at Hazeltine before firing a 64 during the second round. “I knew my game, I hit it really far. I don't really put myself in trouble that often, like I was going to be hard to beat in match play. I've kind of just proven that the past two days.”

University of Notre Dame sophomore Jacob Modleski advanced to the quarterfinal round with his victory over Mexico's Omar Morales late Thursday, 2 and 1. Modleski will square off against University of Illinois senior Jackson Buchanan, ranked No. 10 in WAGR.

Spain's Luis Masaveu got past Thailand's Phichaksn Maichon during the Round of 16 Thursday, 3 and 2, to advance to the quarterfinal round against the 11th-ranked amateur in the world in Brendan Valdes.

The quarterfinal round of the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship is set to begin at 2:30 p.m. at Hazeltine National Golf Club.



THE 124TH U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
HAZELTINE NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
CHASKA, MINN.
7,548 YARDS, PAR 72


THURSDAY'S ROUND OF 16 RESULTS
Ethan Fang, Plano, Texas, def. Bastien Amat, France, 2-up
Noah Kent, Naples, Fla., def. Garrett Engle, Harrisburg, Pa., 4 and 2
Jacob Modleski, Noblesville, Ind., def., Omar Morales, Mexico, 2 and 1
Jackson Buchanan, Dacula, Ga., def. Tyler Mawhinney, Fleming Island, Fla., 1-up
Jose Luis Ballester, Spain, def. Christian Brand, Hurricane, W.Va., 2 and 1
Bobby Massa, Dallas, Texas, def. Ashton McCulloch, Canada, 23 holes
Luis Masaveu, Spain, def. Phichaksn Maichon, Thailand, 3 and 2
Brendan Valdes, Orlando, Fla., def. Peter Fountain, Raleigh, N.C., 3 and 2


WEDNESDAY'S ROUND OF 64 RESULTS
3. Luis Masaveu, Spain, def. GUNNAR BROIN, SHOREWOOD, MINN., 3 and 2


TUESDAY'S FINAL STROKE PLAY RESULTS
T54. GUNNAR BROIN, SHOREWOOD, MINN., 74-68—142
MC. BEN WARIAN, STILLWATER, MINN., 69-74—143
MC. JACQUES WILSON, CHASKA, MINN., 72-72—144
MC. SAM UDOVICH, INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MINN., 74-74—148
MC. NATE DEZIEL, EAST GRAND FORKS, MINN., 84-69—153
MC. JOSH PERSONS, UNIV. OF MINN., 81-74—155
MC. JACOB PEDERSEN, SHOREWOOD, MINN., 73-83—156


For complete tournament results go to: https://championships.usga.org/usamateur/2024/scoring.html