Conners advances to semifinals

No Americans make it to U.S. Amateur final four

BROOKLINE, Mass. Australians Brady Watt and Oliver Goss advanced to the U.S. Amateur semifinals Friday along with Canada’s Corey Conners and England’s Matt Fitzpatrick, marking the first time that an American has failed to reach the final four.

“I definitely had really high expectations coming into the tournament. My game has been really solid all summer,” Conners said.

Watt, a co-medallist in stroke-play qualifying, had a dramatic 1-up victory over 17-year-old Scottie Scheffler of Dallas. Scheffler, the U.S. Junior Amateur champion, had a hole-inone on the par-3 seventh and trailed only once — when Watt made a 5-foot par putt to win the match on the 18th hole.

On Saturday at The Country Club, Watt will face Goss — a 5-and-3 winner over Brandon Matthews of Dupont, Pa. Watt and Goss, close friends who are staying at the same house nearby, planned to attend the Boston Red Sox’s game Friday night at Fenway Park against the New York Yankees — in seats down near the field.

“We’re great mates and we’ve had a lot of close tournaments together, and we really enjoy playing together,” said Watt. “I think we get the best out of ourselves and, with the amount of people out there today, we’re going to look forward to tomorrow to show everyone good shots.”

Goss, an Amateur quarter-finalist last year, has a winning streak going over his pal. “He beat me in the state amateur stroke play, and then he beat me in the match play, and then he beat me in a five-hole playoff in the W Open,” said Goss.

“I guess he owes me a couple,” said Watt, who attends the University of Tennessee.