Rose Knocks Out Two-Time Champ Simson, Advances to Quarters at U.S. Senior Am in Oregon

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  EUGENE, Ore. – Following a pair of relatively stress-free matches to begin the match play portion of the 2018 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship, Minnesotan Jerry Rose faced his biggest challenge in two-time U.S. Amateur champion and 2017 runner-up Paul Simson during Tuesday’s Round of 32 at Eugene Country Club.
 
Simson carded a late birdie to even the match for a fourth time in a back-and-forth match with Rose before the 2017 Minnesota Golf Association Senior Men’s Player of the Year took advantage of a bogey by Simson on the 20^th hole, carding a two-putt par to advance to the Quarterfinal Round Wednesday.

"I knew the match with Simson was going to be a tough one. He's such a gritty competitor, I was up most of the front nine, but he kept coming back," Rose said following his second win Tuesday. "I played very steady although not quite as sharp against Paul as I've played all week, but I hung in and was able to capitalize on his mistake in extra holes. Very exciting match and I'm thrilled to come out on top.

"It's been a great week so far. I've played really well—I haven't made a ton of putts, but I'm making enough at the right time. The golf course has been playing long at about 6,000 yards, which I feel is a bit of an advantage for me."
 
Rose, originally from Alexandria, Minn., took advantage of two uncharacteristic bogeys by Simson to take a 2-up lead through three holes. Known for his tenacity and putting birdies on the scorecard, Simson followed up by carding a pair of birdies at the fourth and fifth holes to even the match.
 
Winning the short par-4 10^th hole, Rose reclaimed his lead, but once again, Simson answered with a birdie at the 11^th before taking his first lead of the match with a birdie at the 13^th. Rose made a late push by birdying the 13^th and winning the 14^th with a par to go back up by one.

On the final hole, Simson missed his par putt from 25-feet to give Rose the opportunity to win the match with a 10-footer for par, but Rose left his putt on the edge of the cup and the two would head to extra holes.

Unable to get up-and-down would lead to a bogey on the 20^th hole for the former USGA champion Simson, leaving Rose with a two-putt par for the win to advance to the quarterfinals Wednesday.
 
Quickly falling behind John Grace during the Round of 32 earlier Tuesday, Rose took the lead after birdies at the sixth and eighth holes and would extend his lead to two by winning the ninth.
 
Winning three straight holes beginning at the 13^th, Rose would close out the match with a birdie at the 15^th hole to face Simson in the Round of 16.
 
Rose finished the first two rounds of stroke play in a tie for sixth place at even par 144 to earn a No. 8 seed for match play. He will now face Iowa’s Michael McCoy when the quarterfinals get underway at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Eugene Country Club.
 
 
 
THE 64^TH SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
EUGENE COUNTRY CLUB
EUGENE, ORE.
6,821 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
TUESDAY’S ROUND OF 16 RESULTS
JERRY ROSE, ALEXANDRIA, MINN., def. Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C., 20 holes
 
 
TUESDAY’S ROUND OF 32 RESULTS
JERRY ROSE, ALEXANDRIA, MINN., def. John Grace, Fort Worth, Texas, 5 and 3
 
 
MONDAY’S ROUND OF 64
JERRY ROSE, ALEXANDRIA, MINN., def. James Camaione, Upland, Calif., 5 and 3
 
 
SUNDAY’S STROKE PLAY RESULTS
T1. Gregory Condon, Monte Vista, Colo., 67-72—139
T1. Jeff Wilson, Fairfield, Calif., 69-70—139
3. Joe Palmer, West Des Moines, Iowa, 74-68—142
T4. Jack Larkin, Atlanta, Ga., 70-73—143
T4. Frank Vana, Jr., Boxford, Mass., 69-74—143
T6. Chip Lutz, Reading, Pa., 74-70—144
T6. Gene Elliott, West Des Moines, Iowa, 74-70—144
T6. Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C., 71-73—144
T6. JERRY ROSE, ALEXANDRIA, MINN., 71-73—144
T10. Randy Haag, Orinda, Calif., 72-73—145 
T10. Dave Ryan, Taylorville, Ill., 74-71—145
 
MC. JOHN ANDERSON, ANDOVER, MINN., 75-83—158
MC. KEVIN CULLIGAN, MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINN., 82-80—162
 
 
For complete tournament results go to: www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/championships/2018/u-s--senior-amateur-.html#!scoring