Zahringer, Tilley Win First Round Matches Morgan Hoffman Youngest To Advance To Match Play
Morgan Hoffman of Arcola (left), winner of the 2005 Carter Cup/MGA Junior Stroke Play Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club on August 5th, became the youngest player to advance to the match play portion of the 2005 U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club on Wednesday August 25th. Hoffman, who turned 16 on August 11th, had to survive a 19-way playoff to earn one of the 17 remaining spots after posting rounds of 76-70 -146 after 36 holes of stroke play. Hoffman lost a close first round match to J.C. Choi of Japan 2&1.
On the flip side is George Zahringer III of Deepdale who at 52, is the oldest player to advance, and who beat Chandler Coco of Oregon with a birdie on the first extra hole of his first match to move on to the round of 32. The .2002 U.S. Mid Amateur champions, who had an exemption into the field this year, went to the quarter finals in this event in 2003 and in 1992.
Brad Tilley of Sleepy Hollow, the only other Met Area player to make match play also won his first round match with a birdie on the 19th hole defeating Jon-Michael Socaris of Voorheesville, NY. Tilley, 22, the 2005Westchester Amateur champion and winner of the Ike Championship in 2003 is playing in his third U.S. Amateur but this is the first time he has made match play
Met area native Austin Eaton, the reigning U.S. Mid Amateur Champion who competed out of Sterling Farms, Golf Club in CT until 2003, also had a great showing in the stroke play portion finishing at 141 and in a tie for 5th place and wining his first match 2 & 1 over Pablo Martin of Spain.
