Now, the two will face each other for the NCGA’s ultimate prize.
Ban, now a senior at UNLV, and Salinda, a junior at Stanford, each punched their tickets to Friday’s 36-hole final of this week’s annual NCGA Amateur Match Play Championship after yet another grueling day at Spyglass Hill.
Looking to become the first back-to-back champion since John Catlin (2010-2011), the No. 3 seeded Ban moved on with a 1 up win over Matt Cohn in the quarterfinals, followed by a 2&1 victory over No. 7 Daniel Connolly. In the match against Cohn, Ban trailed for 10 holes, and didn't take the lead until a birdie on the par-3 15th. Against Connolly, he fell behind two holes through seven.
Having won last year, however, Ban knew he just had to hang in there.
“It’s a grind. It kind of hit me today….the fatigue,” said Ban, who birdied the 11th and 15th holes to shake off Connolly. “I know it’s a long week. You can’t ever get ahead of yourself. You just have to stay in the moment.”
The No. 2 seed was sent packing, while the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds marched on.
Stanford senior Bradley Knox, the No. 2 seed, saw his run end when No. 7 Daniel Connolly eagled the 19th hole (the par-5 1st) to dramatically end their match.
Defending champion Shintaro Ban, the No. 3 seed, also had a tight match. The UNLV senior had to come back from a two-hole deficit before finally edging No. 11 Matt Cohn. All square through 14 holes, Ban finally grabbed a 1 up lead with a birdie on the par-3 15th. He and Cohn, the 2015 runner-up, went on to halve the remaining three holes.
Also squeaking out a win was No. 4 Isaiah Salinda. Salinda, a junior at Stanford, knocked out No. 28 Jason Anthony, 2&1. The pair were all square through 14 before Salinda won with a birdie and par on 15 and 16. Anthony entered the event leading in the points standings for NCGA Player of the Year honors.
Bryan Baumgarten, a sophomore at the University of Illinois, didn’t sweat as much. The Granite Bay GC member won his quarterfinals match over Jesse Bratz, 5&4.
Related: NCGA Match Play: Ban and Anthony Advance, Tilly Upset
