Incoming Men's Golf Freshmen Advance To Match Play
6/20/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
SPOKANE, Wash. - A pair of incoming Gonzaga University freshmen men's golfers had solid outings this week.
Will Brueckner of Walnut Creek, Calif., advanced to the match play quarterfinals of the 103rd California State Amateur Championship, while David Ganz of Portland, Ore., advanced to match play in the 105th Oregon State Amateur.
Ganz, who entered match play as the 25th seed after shooting 72-73 for 145 in stroke play qualifying at OGA Golf Course in Woodburn, fell to Nicholas Huff of Vancouver, Wash., 1-up in the opening round of match play.
The third-seeded Brueckner, a 17-year-old Junior Tour of Northern California standout, slipped by No.19 Mark Anguiano, 1-up to advance to the quarterfinals. Anguiano is the 60th ranked amateur in the world.
Brueckner's run came to an end Friday morning when he fell 2 and 1 to 22nd seed Matt Hansen of Los Osos, Calif. Hansen went 2-up early in the match but Brueckner battled back to square the match by winning the 8th and 10th holes. But Hansen went 1-up on the 12th and increased his lead to 2-up on the 14th before Brueckner closed the deficit on the 15th hole before losing the 17th hole to end the match.
Brueckner and Anquiano had quite a duel Thursday. The two exchanged a pair of birdies and pars to finish their front-nine at all-square.
On the pivotal back-nine at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif., Anguiano took a 1-up lead with a birdie on the 11th. The pair then halved their next two holes before Anguiano bogeyed the 14th. Anguiano later slipped with another bogey on the 17th, with the two matching birdies on the 18th.
In the first round, Brueckner won on the 20th hole.
Facing upset-minded No.30 seed Austin Amaya of Yorba Linda, Brueckner trailed by two through the first seven holes. Brueckner, winner of the 2013 San Francisco City Amateur, came roaring back, however, winning three of the next four holes to take a 1-up lead. With an Amaya win on the 18th, the pair went to extra holes. On the 20th hole, Brueckner emerged victorious when Amaya carded a double-bogey.
Earlier on the 16th, Brueckner had an up and down that would've impressed even Phil Mickelson. On the par-3 hole, Brueckner pulled his tee shot left of the green into the water hazard. Taking off both his socks and shoes, he decided to play the ball as it lied, putting good club on it and sending it over the green and into a bunker. After replacing his footwear, he walked into the bunker and holed out for par.
