Capan and Wong Advance to Match Play at U.S. Four-Ball Championship; Three Minnesotans Miss Cut

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  MAMARONECK, N.Y. – Firing a 67 during the second round of the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship Sunday at Winged Foot Golf Club, 16-year-olds Frankie Capan and Shuai Ming Wong finished tied for ninth place at 7-under par 133 and advanced to the match play portion of the championship.

The two qualified for the championship in September at StoneRidge Golf Club in Stillwater, Minn., after firing a 9-under par 63 to earn medalist honors.

Capan, North Oaks, Minn., and Wong, Houston, Texas, carded a 4-under par 66 during the opening round Saturday and got off to a quick start with a birdie on the opening hole Sunday to move to 5-under for the tournament.

Giving back a stroke with a bogey at the third, the two rolled in a birdie opportunity at the par-5 fifth hole and would turn at 1-under for the round. Taking advantage of another par-5, Capan and Wong birdied the 12th to get to 6-under and would finish the first two rounds at 7-under after a birdie on the final hole to finish inside the top-32 to qualify for match play.

Seeded No. 10 for match play, Capan and Wong will face Rob Garland and Charles Keene at 9:48 Monday at Winged Foot Golf Club to begin the Round of 32.

Michael Christensen, Minneapolis, Minn., and partner Brad Clark, Chapel Hill, N.C., opened the championship with a 3-under par 67 during the opening round Saturday before shooting a 73 during the final round of stroke play Sunday to finish tied for 53rd at even par 140, missing the cut for match play by three shots.

Eric Deutsch, Rochester, Minn., and Shane Sigsbee, Las Vegas, Nev., carded a 1-under par 69 Saturday before shooting 4-over par 74 during the final round of stroke play Sunday to finish tied for 89th at 143, missing the cut by six strokes.

Erik Christopherson, Minneapolis, Minn., played the first two rounds of stroke play as an individual after partner, Adam Wynia, Minneapolis, Minn., was forced to skip the event as his wife was expecting the couple’s child.

Christopherson carded a 76 during Saturday’s opening round and managed to put together a solid round of 2-over par 72 Sunday to finish tied for 118th at 148.


For complete tournament results go to: www.usga.org/championships/2016/u-s--amateur-four-ball.html