TULSA — Arkansas senior David Lingmerth moved into the quarterfinals of the 109th U.S. Amateur with two victories Thursday at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa.
He beat Bud Cauley of Jacksonville, Fla., 2 and 1 and Cameron Tringale of Laguna Niguel, Calif., 4 and 2.
Lingmerth's first match of the day saw him control action throughout the 17 holes as he went all-square with Cauley only two times and held a lead as large as three. The players matched each other for most of their round, but steady play allowed Lingmerth to prevail over the No. 5 seed who was also an All-American.
The afternoon's match was a back-and-forth battle through the first eight holes. Lingmerth won the second hole to lead, but the 12th seed won the third hole to square the match.
Tringale grabbed the lead on No. 5 and held it for two holes before Lingmerth squared the match on the seventh and eighth holes.
Lingmerth hit four birdies and a par over the next five holes to go 5-up with five to play. He birdied a 372-yard par 4, a 366-yard par 4, a 170-yard par 3 and a 535-yard par 5 to take a commanding lead. Lingmerth then went par-birdie on holes 14 and 15 to cut the lead, but a par for Lingmerth on the 16th secured the victory.
Lingmerth next faces No. 4 seed Ben Martin of Greenwood, S.C.
Lingmerth moved through the stroke play qualifier Monday and Tuesday, shooting a 5-over-par 145 (72-73) to place 28th after the cut.
He opened match play with a 3-and-2 victory over Scott Strohmeyer of Auburn, Ala., on Wednesday.
PGA EUROPEAN Lawrie leads by one
GLENEAGLES, Scotland - Paul Lawrie, who made had an eagle-3 from 45 feet at the ninth hole, shot a bogey-free 5-underpar 67 in rainy conditions for a one-stroke lead in the Johnnie Walker Championship.
Defending champion Gregory Havret, Steven O'Hara, Wade Orsmby and Ake Nilsson were a shot back.
Lawrie said he doesn't mind playing in bad weather.
"With the rain, the last five or six holes were very tough," he said. "I never really struggled except at the 18th, where I hooked my second shot."
He still made par.
Colin Montgomerie had an opening 76 for the second consecutive week, although he's just4 over par. Last week, he missed the cut at the Dutch Open.
NATIONWIDE Sims shoots 64
MOSCOW, Pa. - Michael Sims shot a 6-under-par 64 for a one-stroke lead over Jason Hill after the first round of the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic.
Brenden Pappas (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 2-under 68 with three birdies and a bogey. Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) shot a a 1-over 71 with two birdies and three bogeys. Drew Laning (Little Rock) shot a 2-over 72 with two birdies and four bogeys. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) shot a 3-over 73 with two birdies and five bogeys.
Sports, Pages 23 on 08/28/2009