Bill Haas Advances to U.S. Amateur Quarterfinals
8/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Aug. 22, 2002
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. - Wake Forest junior Bill Haas (Greer, S.C.) has advanced to the quarterfinals of the 102nd U.S. Amateur Championship, taking place at the Oakland Hills Country Club. Haas won his second and third round matches on Thursday, defeating Greg Kennedy and Clemson??s D.J. Trahan.
In second-round action, Haas defeated Kennedy, a 33-year-old from Cumming, Ga., 4 and 3. Haas dropped the first hole to Kennedy, but did not lose another hole before clinching the match after No. 15.
The third-round was a little tougher for Haas, as he faced Trahan, the 2002 ACC Player of the Year, Ben Hogan Award winner and 2000 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion. Trahan led nearly the entire way, going as much as 3-up halfway through the round. Haas closed the gap and got it back to all square by Hole No. 15. Trahan bogeyed 16 while Haas parred to go 1-up. Haas then birdied the par-3 17th hole and Trahan shot par, clinching the match for Haas, 2 and 1.
It marked the second day in a row Haas had defeated a conference player of the year. His first-round opponent, Lee Williamson of Purdue, was the 2002 Big Ten Player of the Year.
Haas?? quarterfinal opponent will be 2002 Western Amateur winner John Klauk, a member of the Texas golf team. Haas and Klauk competed together to help the U.S. capture the Palmer Cup earlier this summer.
Haas and Klauk face off beginning at 11:30 a.m. Television coverage is scheduled from 1:00-4:00 p.m. on ESPN.
The U.S. Amateur champion receives, among other awards and exemptions, an invitation to play in next year??s Masters Tournament.
For complete results and more information on the U.S. Amateur Championship, visit www.usamateur.org.