PNGA Amateur: Flores takes medalist honors at 8-under-par

EAGLE, Idaho (July 8, 2008) – Erik Flores, 22, of Grass Valley, Calif. earned medalist honors in a playoff against first round leader Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, BC at the 107th PNGA Men’s Amateur’s being held at BanBury Golf Club in Eagle, Idaho. Flores, the #2 player for the National Champion UCLA Bruins, and Hadwin, who both finished stroke play qualifying at 8-under par 132, put on a display in the playoff for medalist honors. Flores barely made it to the first tee in time, after falling asleep on his host family's couch after his round earlier in the day. He had time for two quick warm-up shots before heading to the tee to face Hadwin, the 2006 medalist. Both players proceeded to birdie the par-4 first hole and par-5 the second hole. Hadwin then got up and down from the greenside bunker on the par-3 third hole to save par and send the playoff to the par-5 fourth hole. Hadwin, who plays for the 10th ranked Louisville Cardinals, appeared to have the advantage after Flores hit his second shot over the green, in which his ball was nestled safely on the green with a 20-foot eagle putt. After studying his chip from both sides, Flores hit a chip shot with perfect line and speed and holed out it out for eagle. Hadwin just missed his eagle putt on the high side, giving Flores medalist honors and the #1 seed in match play. Overall, in the four playoff holes, Flores was 4-under par and Hadwin 3-under par. The field was trimmed to the low 64 players who have advanced to match play. The cut was 5-over par 145. Five players at 145 had a playoff for the final four spots in match play. The low player in stroke play qualifying from the Boise area was Preston Alder, who qualified for match play with two day total of 1-over par 141. Shot of the day – Jens Bracht of Lake Forest, Wash. had a hole-in-one on #16, the 167 yard, par-3. The schedule for the rest of the week is as follows: Wednesday, July 9 – First round, 18 holes, match play; Thursday, July 10 – Second and third round, 18 holes, match play; Friday, July 11 – Quarterfinals and semifinals, 18 holes, match play; Saturday, July 12 – Final, 36 holes, match play.