UT’s Ghim reaches U.S. Amateur final
LOS ANGELES — When Doug Ghim’s winning putt dropped on the 17th hole of his U.S. Amateur semifinal, he immediately realized he has a second chance at a missed opportunity.
Ghim narrowly lost the chance to play in the Masters in 2014 when he blew a lead on the final hole of the U.S. Public Links Amateur, a failure that annoys and motivates the University of Texas senior to this day.
After reaching the final of the U.S. Amateur along with Clemson’s Doc Redman on Saturday, he is almost certain to get an invitation to play at Augusta next year.
Before that, he has the chance to earn an even bigger honor: Ghim and Redman will play 36 holes at Riviera Country Club on Sunday to determine the winner of the Havemeyer Trophy and the 117th edition of the Amateur.
Ghim’s father Jeff will be right alongside him, just as he has been throughout the Chicagoarea native’s life and career.
“I’m not really sure if I can quantify what it means to me to be out there with him (Sunday),” Ghim said. “We’ve shared so many good moments and so many really difficult ones. In 2014 … the difficult part was knowing that I could have walked out on the fairway of Augusta with my father, and that was basically taken away from me. It was the first thing that popped into my head (Saturday): We’re going to Masters, likely.”
Redman lost a late lead before holding off Mark Lawrence Jr. 1 up, while Ghim beat Theo Humphrey 2 and 1 in his latest outstanding performance.
Ghim is the highest-ranked player left in the field at No. 7 after a strong year that includes the Big 12’s Player of the Year award and a victory in the Pacific Coast Amateur. Ghim hit a steady stream of fairways and greens in beautifully windless conditions in the semifinal.
If Ghim wins, he’ll complete an amateur sweep for the Longhorns after Sophia Schubert won the U.S. Women’s Amateur in San Diego last week.
Ghim’s father was born in South Korea and only picked up golf as an adult. Before Doug eventually got onto a golf course, Jeff taught his young son through hundreds of hours in the backyard hitting into a tennis net.
“I had no idea what the rules of golf were,” Doug said with a laugh. “I just knew how to hit the golf ball.”
Kerr keys Americans’ big lead in Solheim
Only the biggest letdown the event has ever seen will keep the Americans from retaining the Solheim Cup.
The United States took a 10½-5½ lead over Europe in West Des Moines, Iowa, matching its biggest advantage entering the final day.
The Americans took three of the four afternoon fourball matches after splitting the morning foursomes at Des Moines Golf and Country Club. The biennial event concludes Sunday with 12 singles matches.
“We’re confident. So we just want to keep it going,” American Austin Ernst said.
Cristie Kerr set a record for career points by an American with 20, teaming with Lexi Thompson to win both of her matches. U.S. captain Juli Inkster held the previous mark with 18½.
“I’m ecstatic,” Inkster said. “I think anytime we can split in foursomes that’s a win for us.”
Stenson takes charge with late birdie binge
Henrik Stenson kept his cool when some birdie chances turned into pars. That patience paid off late in his round.
Stenson shot a 4-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead in the Wyndham Championship at Greensboro, N.C.
The 2013 FedEx Cup champion and 2016 British Open winner was at 16-under 194 with a round left in the PGA Tour’s last regular-season event of the season.
The Swede had four birdies on a five-hole stretch of the back nine to overtake Webb Simpson for sole possession of first place.
“It’s all about how you finish, I guess,” Stenson said. “I came back strongly, great birdies coming home and right where we want to be.”
Simpson (68), Kevin Na (65) and Ollie Schniederjans (66) were tied for second at 15-under 195.
McCarron fires 61 for share of top spot
Scott McCarron had two eagles in an 11-under 61 to join Kevin Sutherland atop the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open leader board in Endicott, N.Y.
Sutherland, the first-round leader, had a 67 to match McCarron at 12-under 132 at En-Joie. Sutherland shot a PGA Tour Champions-record 59 three years ago here.
Odds and ends
Australian Wade Ormsby had five back-nine birdies for a six-under 66 and a one-stroke lead in the Fiji International. … Marcel Siem rallied to beat Robert Rock to reach the semis of the Paul Lawrie Match Play.