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USGA Junior Amateur Champonship
LONGMEADOW, MA (July 21, 2005) -- Professional golfer Bob Tway won the 1986 PGA Championship, but he never advanced beyond the first round of match play at a U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in two tries.

His 16-year-old son, Kevin, however did just that on his first try Thursday when he won two matches and advanced to quarterfinal round of the Junior Amateur at Longmeadow Country Club.

Tway defeated Arnold Palmer’s grandson Sam Saunders of Windermere, Fla., in the second round, 4 and 3. He won the last two holes of his next match for a 3-and-1 thrid-round win over Russell Henley of Macon, Ga.

“I was kind of nervous, but it helped a lot that I was hitting the ball so well,” said the younger Tway. “I haven’t really played much match play.”

The older Tway proudly watched on. "He played well,” said his proud father in approval. “It’s always fun to watch him play, but it’s hard on your emotions. This is much harder than playing yourself.”

Saunders was the stroke-play medalist at 7-under-par 133. Defending champion Sihwan Kim of Fullerton, Calif., advanced one round more than Saunders, but lost on the 19th hole to Philip Francis, 16, of Scottsdale, Ariz.

“I gave it all I had out there,” said Kim, who had the outside chance at winning three in a row, just like Tiger Woods did from 1991-93. “”It’s amazing that Tiger won three in a row. It was hard for me to win the first match.”

“That was a good match,” said Francis, who used a par on the first extra hole to dispatch Kim. “We are pretty good friends.”

Play continues Friday with the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play. The championship runs through Saturday, with a 36-hole final to determine the winner.

Others to reach the quarterfinals were Tim McKenney, 17, of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Arnond Vongvanij, 16, of Bradenton, Fla.; Ryan Thomas, 17, of Alameda, Calif.; Brad Johnson, 16, of Birmingham, Ala.; Jamie Lovemark, 17, of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; and David Chung, 15, of Fayetteville, N.C., the runner-up from a year ago.

Chung edged Peter Uihlein in the third round with a winning par on the third extra hole. He made a 5-footer while Uihlein missed his from a bit closer. Chung also stayed alive with putts from five, 10 and eight feet on the three preceding holes.

“That’s what he does,” said Uihlein. “He scrambles all the time. You can’t ever count him out.”

Lovemark showed the best stuff in relation to par, going 11 under in his two matches with the usual concessions for match play.



ABOUT THE U.S. Junior Amateur

While it is not the oldest competition, the U.S. Junior Amateur is considered the premier junior competition, having been around since 1948. The event is open to male golfers who have not reached their 19th birthday prior to the close of competition and whose USGA Handicap Index does not exceed 6.4. The U.S. Junior is one of 14 national championship conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

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