North Carolina State University Athletics
Golfers Advance In Match Play
7/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 17, 2002
2002 US Amateur Public Links Championship LIVE SCORING
Washington, Mich. - In the first round of Match Play at the U.S Public Links Championship, Wolfpack golfers Justin Walters and Fernando Mechereffe defeated their opponents to advance to the second day of match play.
In match play, competition is played by holes rather than strokes. Each player is paired with another individual, and the two play the round without any consideration of the other players' performances. The match continues until one player is ahead by more strokes than remaining holes. If a pair is tied after 18 holes, then they two return to the first hole until one player has an advantage. Both of these situations occurred today for the Wolfpack golfers.
Returning All-American Justin Walters defeated Greg Kopf '5 and 4'. Kopf won the first hole and was 1up until Walters birdied on the third hole and claimed the point to even the score. Walters struck again on the fifth hole, and then captured holes six, seven, 10 and 14 to clinch the match. With Walters' five-hole advantage on the 14th, the match was put away and he was determined the winner.
Mechereffe took the long road to success, requiring 19 holes to defeat Michael Letzig. Mechereffe took the early advantage and led by as many as two holes before Letzig squared the match on the eighth hole. Letzig took holes nine and 12, then Mechereffe surged and won holes 13, 14 and 15. Letzig was awarded the 16th hole and the score was even again. No winner was decided after 18 holes, forcing the players to return to the beginning of the course. Mechereffe captured the match by winning the 19th hole, advancing him to round two competition.
Match play will continue through six rounds until one player is determined as the champion; the champion qualifies for the Masters. Former Wolfpacker and European tour player Tom Clark won the event four years ago.
Mechereffe will tee-off with opponent Justin Smith of Pennsylvania at 8:51 A.M., while Walters will get a later start against Steve Lohmeyer of Ohio at 9:36 A.M.
Check www.usapl.org or www.usapl.org for more information on the 2002 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship.
