San Francisco, California, United States: For the second time in three years, Paul Chang’s journey at the 125th US Amateur Championship came to an end after a rousing, roller-coaster Round of 16 contest.
Following a comprehensive 6&5 success against England’s Tyler Weaver in the Round of 32, the China player’s hopes of progressing to the quarter-final for the first time were thwarted by American Jacob Modleski in a high-quality match-up that was illuminated with eight birdies.
All square with two to play, Chang fell behind to Modleski's fifth birdie of the round on the par-five 17th at The Olympic Club’s Lake Course. Pressing to restore parity on 18 and take the match to extra-time, Chang made bogey, allowing his opponent to record a two-up win.
But Chang, 45th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), at least had the satisfaction of making Modleski fight all the way.
Seemingly down and out after Modleski birdies at the third, fourth and fifth gave the American a three-up lead, Chang reduced the deficit to two-down through eight. He then won the ninth and 10th to draw level. But Chang was unable to make the most of that momentum, never quite managing to get his nose in front.
Reflecting on the clash in which he was never behind, Modleski said: “It did feel like a roller-coaster match. If you look at how the matches have played out this week, a lot of times it’s a roller-coaster with pars. Today, it was a roller-coaster with birdies. It was awesome.”
In the morning, Chang had taken control of his clash with Weaver thanks to winning pars at the first two holes. He extended his advantage to four-up through five before further wins at the eighth and 10th gave him a six-up lead. With the next three holes all halved, the contest concluded at the 13th without Chang having lost a single hole.
Despite his disappointment at bowing out, Chang can reflect on a proud US Amateur record having also made it through to the Round of 16 in 2023 at Cherry Hills and advancing to the Round of 32 at Hazeltine National Golf Club last year.
Meanwhile, Rintaro Nakano’s run came to an end in the Round of 32, soundly beaten (5&3) by South African Daniel Bennett, who eliminated New Zealander Joshua Bai in the Round of 64 on Wednesday.
After losing the first two holes, Nakano was always playing catch-up. Four-down after seven, the Japanese reduced the deficit at 12.
But his hopes of mounting another late revival to match his Round of 64 heroics when he won the final two holes for a one-up victory were ended when Bennett made birdies on 13 and 15 to close out the match.
