Paolucci Quietly Dispatches Uihlein

By Ken Klavon, USGA

Augusta, Mo. – The script was supposedly pre-conceived. David versus Goliath. Fourteen year old against 17 year old. The top-ranked junior player from the Pendleton School in Bradenton, Fla., against an up-and-comer who could hold his own with anyone.

Even the 14 year old, Anthony Paolucci, admitted the odds were stacked against him Thursday when he saw he had to take on the monolithic Peter Uihlein. At the end, one would bolt away red-faced, offering a terse “I’m not talking” while the other spoke so soft that the whir of a fan above had more pitch.

Anthony Paolucci has not let his surroundings keep him from unprecedented success (Steven Gibbons/USGA)

Paolucci did the inconceivable and sent the ostentatious Uihlein bee-lining for the Boone Valley Golf Club parking lot in a tizzy. When Paolucci drained his 10-foot birdie offering on the 18th hole, an incensed Uihlein tossed his ball into Irwin Lake. Not bad for a young stalwart getting his first taste of the match-play format.

“I could tell he was really mad,” said Paolucci, who trailed just four holes in the quarterfinal match.

Blame Paolucci. The kid is so talented that he has that kind of effect on opponents, even a three-time AJGA junior All-American.

An incoming freshman at St. Mark’s High School in Dallas, Paolucci has no airs or even a hint of cockiness. He’s self-assured in his game, which has served as a conduit to bigger and better things.

He began to believe he could legitimately beat Uihlein on the 555-yard, par-5 ninth when he sank a moderate par putt to square the match. “I told myself on nine, ‘I can beat this kid,’” said Paolucci.

On No. 13, Uihlein put his ball in the water that abuts the hole. Paolucci pounced, pushing his advantage to 2 up. A lagging 8-footer just on the front edge of the 14th green led to a mild fist pump, a thunderous show of emotion for the reserved prepubescent. It was an important stroke because Uihlein began to exert pressure.

“I told myself, ‘Don’t choke coming in,’” said Paolucci. “I almost did on 14.”

Paolucci showed signs of leaking oil on No. 15. He hooked his drive into the ankle-high rough, leading to a thin approach shot that was repelled by the elevated green. When his 4 1/2 –footer for par lipped the outer edge, Uihlein’s caddie belted, “Come on Pete baby, let’s go!” as they headed to the 16th teeing ground.

The two went to the 17th with Paolucci still clinging to a 1-up margin. Uihlein had a masterful 40-foot chip that cascaded the humped green to within 5 feet of the hole. It led to a par and demonstrative fist pump and a raucous “Come on!” out of Uihlein’s mouth.

The momentum seemed to swing, even more so knowing that Paolucci had missed the 18th fairway every time he played it this week. He split it this time, leaving 127 yards to the hole. Uihlein also was dead center to the right-center flagstick, needing 145 to find it.

Uihlein’s approach stopped 22 feet left. Paolucci stuck his tighter, within 8 feet.

“I knew he was going to have a tough putt,” said Paolucci. “I was trying to get inside his ball.”

Uihlein’s read suggested a mild left-to-right break. The ball didn’t break enough, bending around the hole. It set the stage for Paolucci, who studied his line as though his eyes were piercing a burn mark in the turf. Paolucci started pumping his right fist a few feet before the ball disappeared.

“I thought he probably wasn’t going to make his putt,” said Paolucci. “I pretty much knew halfway there on mine that it was in the hole.”

An infuriated Uihlein heaved his ball into the lake, offered Paolucci a quick handshake and departed his final Junior Amateur empty-handed. In the meantime, Paolucci has just started building his resume, a vibrant feather at that by taking down a giant.

“I didn’t have a zero percent chance of winning,” said Paolucci. “I believe in myself. I can get to the finals.”

Ken Klavon is the USGA Web Editor. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.