Okla. St.’s Hovland, UCLA’s Bling advance to U.S. Amateur final
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Norway’s Viktor Hovland had such an easy time in the quarterfinals and round of 16 at the U.S. Amateur that he didn’t even need to play the 13th hole.
When he got pushed a bit in the semifinals, Hovland responded.
Hovland birdied six of seven holes he played on the back nine Saturday to advance to the U.S. Amateur final at Pebble Beach, where he will take on UCLA sophomore Devon Bling.
“I hadn’t played 13 and 14 and 15 in a few days, but I knew what to do,” Hovland said. “It wasn’t like I was taken off guard. I knew that most likely I was going to do that. I just stuck to my game plan, just let it all happen.”
Hovland, a junior at Oklahoma State, became the first player in 40 years to win consecutive matches at the U.S. Amateur by at least seven holes when he beat Kristoffer Reitan and Austin Squires 7 and 6 in the previous two rounds.
Indy Women: Lizette Salas waited patiently for Sung Hyun Park to make a rare mistake Saturday in Indianapolis.
When the South Korean miss-hit her approach shot into the water on the par-4 16th, Salas capitalized quickly.
She rolled in her birdie putt then watched Park make double bogey — a three-shot swing that gave Salas the lead and the momentum heading into the final round of the Indy Women in Tech Championship. Salas closed out her 8-under 64 with a birdie on No. 18 to reach 21 under — two shots ahead of Park and Amy Yang.
Dick’s Sporting Goods Open: Michael Bradley shot a 4-under 68 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y.
The 52-year-old Bradley had five birdies and a bogey in the raindelayed round to reach 11-under 133 at En-Joie Golf Club.
Wyndham: Brandt Snedeker is bracing for a long last day at the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C.
Snedeker held a three-stroke lead when the third round was suspended because of severe weather.