Aug. 24, 2010

U.S. Amateur Site | Individual Stroke-Play Scores | Round of 64 Match Play Results

DUPONT, WA - Cal sophomore Max Homa and incoming freshman Ben An have qualified for match play at the 110th U.S. Amateur Championship being played at Chambers Bay. Homa tied for 24th during 36 holes of stroke play played on Monday and Tuesday with a two-day total of two-over par 145, while An checked in at four-over par 147 to tie for 40th.

"Both of these guys have a chance to go very deep in the brackets," said head coach Steve Desimone. "Having won a year ago, Ben certainly has to be one of the favorites. And the way Max is playing and given his mental toughness anything is possible. Boy, wouldn't it be great to have two Golden Bears in the final. Let's hope they're not in the same bracket."

Both players had strong opening rounds on Monday and played well enough Tuesday to make the cut of the 64 players in the 312-player field that moved on to Wednesday's start of match play.

After an opening round three-under par 69 on the Home Course that had him tied for second after the first day of action, Homa shot a five-over par 76 on Tuesday at the Chambers Bay Golf Course.

"Max Homa continues to play great and do what he's done since the end of last spring and all summer," said Desimone. "This kind of tops it off when you advance to match play in the U.S. Amateur."

An has earned a chance to defend his 2009 U.S. Amateur title after opening with a two-under par 70 on the Home Course and shooting a five-over par 77 on Tuesday at Chambers Bay. His victory last year at the age of 17 made him the youngest player to ever win the event.

First-round leader Jeff Wilson posted the top score in stroke play despite shooting a three-over par 74 at Chambers Bay on Tuesday. Wilson had posted a 62 at the Home Course on Monday and ended the first day of action with a seven-stroke advantage.

A school-record six current Golden Bears competed in the event, with four others ending their tournament on Tuesday including senior John Murphy (T138th, 79-75 - 154, +11), sophomore James Coré (T180th, 78-78 - 156, +13), senior Eric Mina (T212th, 73-85 - 158, +15) and freshman Ben Mangum (T305th, 89-83 - 172).

"At just about every golf tournament that I've been associated with on one side there's a lot of happiness and joy, and on the other side there's a lot of sadness and agony," said Desimone. "We had six guys participating with two advancing so that's the way it was with this event as well."

Homa will face T.J. Bordeaux in his round of 64 match on Wednesday with a scheduled tee time of 10:10 a.m. PT. Bordeaux tied for 33rd in stroke play with a 36-hole total of 146, one shot behind Homa.

An will tee off 50 minutes later against David Dannelly at 11:00 a.m. PT. Dannelly tied for 13th during stroke play with a score of 144, three shots better than An.

Stay tuned to CalBears.com and the men's golf Bear Blog for updates on Homa and An throughout match play of the 110th U.S. Amateur Championship.