New Zealand’s Josh Bai the only Australasian with hopes of advancing at US Am

Josh Bai during his runner-up effort at the US Junior Championship in 2023 – file photo USGA

19-year-old New Zealander, Josh Bai, may be the only one of six Australasians to advance to the match play phase of the US Amateur Championship at the Olympic Club near San Francisco, the Auckland golfer now to contest a playoff between 20 golfers for the remaining 17 places of 64, to graduate to the knockout stage.

The mammoth playoff will commence at 7.15  on Wednesday morning California time, with the final 64 then to play the opening round of match play.

Bai, who in 2023 finished runner-up at the US Junior Championships in Charleston in South Carolina, recovered from an opening round of 76 with a round of 67 today to finish at 3 over for the 36 holes played over both the Ocean and Lake Courses at the Olympic Club.

Bai, who is a freshman at the University of Florida, appeared to be on his way home when he made the turn in today’s second round, as at that stage he appeared outside the required mark, but a homeward nine of 33 saw him into the playoff, which he survived

The news was not as good for Bai’s fellow countryman Zach Swanick who finished one shot (+4)  outside of the playoff, and Australians Declan O’Donovan (+5), Corby Caruthers (+6), Billy Dowling (+6) and Arrow Aarov Shah(+14).

SCORING