Bai Breezes into Match Play Phase

Michigan, United States: For the second year in succession, New Zealander Joshua Bai has breezed into the match play phase at the US Junior Amateur Championship.

Runner-up last year, Bai fired a bogey-free 65 on the North Course at Oakland Hills Country Club. That followed a one-over 71 on the South Course on Monday.

One of nine Asia-Pacific players to qualify from the 36-hole stroke play segment, Bai will be the number three seed in match play. Last year at Daniel Island Club in Charleston, South Carolina, he was the sixth seed.

Also progressing from the Asia-Pacific contingent are the mainland China quintet of Zhou Ziqin (tied 16th, 140); Li Zhengda (tied 25th, 141); World Amateur Golf Ranking number 39 Chang Xihuan (tied 32nd, 142); Wang Yixiang and Wang Zihao (tied for 44th, 143).

Korean 15-year-old An Seong-hyeon, winner of last week’s R&A Junior Boys’ Open in Scotland, eased his way through after rounds of 69 on the South and 70 on the North in a share of 12th place.

New Zealand’s Zack Swanwick and Vietnam’s Nguyen Anh Minh were among those in joint 44th place on 143.

Hoping to join them in match play are Chinese Taipei’s Chen Hsuan-yi and Thai Lapassapon Liberto Heras-Gomez.

They were among 13 players who tied for 56th spot on four-over 144. They will return to the North Course at 7 am (local time) on Wednesday for a play-off with nine spots in the match play draw up for grabs.

Among those who bowed out at the stroke play phase were Thailand’s much-touted Ratchanon 'TK' Chantananuwat, whose one-over 145 total was one shot too many.

China’s Xia Kaichen (145) and Japan’s Taishi Moto, who followed an opening 68 with a 78, also failed to progress.

The 64 players who survived the cut and qualified for match play will play a single match on Wednesday, after the conclusion of a 13-for-nine playoff at 7 am. The Round of 64 will commence at 8 am. Match play continues Thursday and Friday with the 36-hole championship match scheduled for Saturday.

The starting field included a total of 43 representatives from 16 APGC member countries – China (11), Thailand (eight), Chinese Taipei (four), Hong Kong China (three), Australia, Jordan, New Zealand, Singapore and Vietnam (two each), and one apiece from India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.