McKinney and Hopewell through to second round at US Am
Connor McKinney in action today – photo Kathryn Riley USGA
West Australians Connor McKinney and Hayden Hopewell have both advanced to the second round of match play at the US Amateur Championship in New Jersey following their victories in the Round of 64 today.
McKinney made a fast start in his match against American Travis Vick, winning the first three holes with birdies, although Vick fought his way back into the encounter to be just one down with three to play.
McKinney, the current Australian Amateur Champion would birdie the 16th and 17th holes and take the match 3&1.
“One of my goals in match play, which I haven’t been amazing at, is getting up early, so to do today, it set the tone real good,” said the Scottish born but now Perth domiciled McKinney.
Vick had been the low amateur at the US Open earlier in the year and a semi finalist in this event last year so he was a potentially dangerous opponent.
“Yeah, I heard about that. The 64 guys, (that made it into the match play) they’re all good enough to qualify for the U.S. Amateur, like the match play, so anyone can beat anyone,” added McKinney.
Hopewell survived a gripping encounter against Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira of Argentina, coming from 2 down with five to play to eventually win the match 1 up with a birdie at the 19th hole.
The other Australian who finished inside the temporary cutline but who lost out on a playoff between 15 players attempting top gain one of the 11 remaining spots in the field, was Karl Vilips, his US Am journey finishing on Wednesday morning when all 15 players returned to the course to determine their fate.
Vilips has previously made the quarter finals in this event so the loss was a real blow for the former Perth but now US based golfer.
Hayden Hopewell hugs Ariel Hopewell after winning his match at the 19th – photo Grant Halverson USGA
