Medalist Ousted In Quarterfinals At U.S. Junior Amateur

Chevy Chase, Md. – James Sacheck, 17, of Zionsville, Ind., ousted medalist Sung Hoon Kang, 16, of Korea, 4 and 3, in the quarterfinals Friday at the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at the 6,586-yard, par-70 Columbia Country Club.

James Sacheck, of Zionsville, Ind., in quarterfinal action at Columbia Country Club. (John Mummert/USGA)

Sacheck never trailed against Kang,taking the lead early when Kang bogeyed the par-4, 459-yard 2nd hole. Sacheck built a four-hole lead after he birdied and Kang made bogey at the par-4, 325-yard 7th hole. Twice, Kang would cut the deficit to three, but Sacheck was able to answer.

“I’m hitting my driver very well, and I think that wore Sung down, because he doesn’t hit it as far and he started over-swinging,” said Sacheck.

Kang’s game plan going into the match was to be aggressive.

“He was hitting the ball so well after the round yesterday,” said his coach, Young Lim, who serves as Kang’s translator and caddie. “He was really confident and wanted to go attack the course.”

But Kang struggled from the tee all day, and through his first 10 holes hit just two fairways. He ended the round with six bogeys and a double bogey, and just two birdies.

“The luck wasn’t on our side today,” said Lim.

Sacheck’s semifinal opponent will be Jordan Cox, 15, of Redwood City, Calif., who kept alive his hopes of becoming the youngest-ever U.S. Junior Amateur champion with a 4-and-2 victory over Michael Randle, 17, of Austin, Texas. Cox won four consecutive holes on the back nine to earn the win. 

Patton Kizzire, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., during his quarterfinal victory. (John Mummert/USGA)

At 15 years, three months, and 22 days, Cox would be younger than Tiger Woods was when Woods won the 1991 championship at 15 years, six months, and 28 days.

Patton Kizzire, 17, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., needed 18 holes to outlast Webb Simpson, 17, of Raleigh, N.C., 1 up, in a match that featured several lead changes. Neither player ever held more than a one-hole lead. Kizzire, who took the lead for good when Simpson three-putted the par-3, 160-yard 16th hole, sank a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-4, 433-yard 18th hole to halve the hole and win the match.

“He made a few mistakes, and I made a few mistakes,” said Kizzire. “Fortunately, I got my putter working pretty well.”

Brian Harman, of Savannah, Ga., hits out of a bunker during quarterfinal action. (John Mummert/USGA)

Kizzire will face Brian Harman, 16, of Savannah, Ga., who advanced with a win over James Lee, of Indio, Calif. Harman, the last remaining left-handed golfer in the field, built a four-hole lead at the par-3, 168-yard 13th hole and held on to win the match, 2 and 1.

The semifinal round of the U.S. Junior Amateur will be played Friday afternoon. The 18-hole championship final is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, at 9 a.m.

The Junior Amateur is one of 13 championships conducted annually by the United States Golf Association each year, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

Chevy Chase, Md. – Results from the quarterfinal round of match play at the 2003 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at the par-70, 6,586-yard Columbia Country Club.

Round of 8

Upper Bracket

James Sacheck, Zionsville, Ind. (144) def. Sung Hoon Kang, Korea (137), 4 and 3

Jordan Cox, Redwood City, Calif. (144) def. Michael Randle, Austin, Texas (146), 4 and 2

Lower Bracket

Patton Kizzire, Tuscaloosa, Ala. (138) def. Webb Simpson, Raleigh, N.C. (146), 1 up

Brian Harman, Savannah, Ga. (139) def. James Lee, Indio, Calif. (150), 2 and 1