Chicago Dist. Am: Recovery advances Lawrence
WHEATON, Ill (June 28, 2012) -- After ending up in a hazard and surrendering his 1-up lead on the final hole of his semifinal match, David Lawrence executed what he called one of the best shots of his young golf career on the first extra hole of the match, enabling him to card a birdie and advance to the championship match of the 93rd CDGA Amateur Championship at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton, Ill.
“On 18, I hit it left and it just caught the cart path,” Lawrence said. “On the second, I just wanted to hit it high enough to get it over the tree. It didn't work out, but I executed the shot I wanted.”
Following the issues at the 18th, Lawrence put his drive in the center of the fairway on Woodside #1, then put a gap wedge within inches of the cup from 122 yards. His opponent, 16th-seed Mike Cushing, conceded the putt for birdie and was unable to hole his putt from the fringe to extend the match beyond 19 holes.
Lawrence will be joined in the championship by Michael Davan, who waited out a 50-minute lightning delay to complete the final 2 holes of his match, winning 2 and 1 over three-time CDGA Senior Player of the Year Dave Ryan. Ryan led by two after the fifth hole of the match, but after winning the seventh hole, Davan cut the lead to one. After Davan squared the match on 11, Ryan briefly took back the lead by winning the 12th. From there, Davan went on a run, winning the next three holes to go 2-up after 15. Following the delay, Ryan won 16 with a par, but after Davan sank a par putt on 17, Ryan was unable to make his putt to extend the match.
“It was a grind out there today, with the heat and competition,” Davan said. “But, I played in a lot of 36 hole days in college.”
Friday, Davan, the reigning Summit League Player of the Year in his senior season at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, will face off against Lawrence, who was recently named first team All-Ohio Valley Conference following his senior campaign at Eastern Illinois University, in the 36-hole championship match at 8 a.m. at Cantigny Golf in Wheaton, Ill.
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ABOUT THE Chicago District Amateur
Open to active CDGA members with an index 5.4 or
below who have advanced through qualifying or
meet
exemption criteria. Format is 36-hole stroke play
qualifying to determine the low 16 advancing to
match
play.
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