Gators Drop Heartbreaker At U.S. Amateur Championship
Thursday, August 25, 2005 | Men's Golf
The tide turned quickly on Thursday at the U.S. Amateur Championship for University of Florida seniors Matt Every (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and Brett Stegmaier (Madison, Conn). Despite having leads late in second round of match-play, the pair could not hold on and fell out of the running for the championship.
Stegmaier started the day by going 3-up on Canada's Ryan Yip, through the first four holes. Stegmaier held par on the next 10 consecutive holes and was up by two going into the back-nine. Yip found his stroke late in the round, firing a birdie on the 11th-hole to tie the match and saved par on the 16th to take the lead. Yip won the round 2-up after another par on the 18th.
A marathon match between Every and Edoardo Molinari of Italy, came down to a playoff hole to determine a winner. Every held the lead for the entire round and was 3-up on the seventh when Molinari made his move. Wins by Molinari on the eighth, ninth and 14th holes trimmed Every's lead to one with four holes remaining. A bogey on the 16th hole by Every tied the match, but he quickly recovered on the 17th with a birdie. Every had a chance to win the match with a five-foot putt on the 18th, but could not capitalize. Molinari responded with a birdie to force the extra hole.
Both players used two shots to reach the green on the 350-yard playoff hole. Every had a second opportunity to win the match, but three-putted the hole while Molinari finished in two.
“I'm sure it will be tough for him to take,” Florida coach Buddy Alexander said. “This was a really disappointing loss for him.”
The second round of match-play was the furthest either Every and Stegmaier have reached. Both were playing in their second U.S Amateur Championship. Florida opens the 2005-06 golf season on September 19 at the Inverness Invitational in Toledo, Ohio.
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