Why this Round of 16 match was totally bonkers

One factor that makes the U.S. Amateur Championship — and match play typically — so thrilling yr after yr is the truth that you by no means know what can occur. One well-timed shot can flip a match round, and make the distinction between profitable and dropping.

And at Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado on Thursday, U.S. Am rivals Rui (Paul) Chang, who previously performed on the University of Virginia’s membership group and can tee it up for the Cavaliers for the primary time this fall, and Auburn rising senior John Michael Butler buying and selling blow after blow till full darkness, solely to must return within the morning to finish their match.

Here’s how all of the drama performed out.

Chang and Butler’s match was a late begin from the get-go, as a result of Chang needed to go further holes (22!) to defeat his Round of 32 opponent Caleb Surratt.

Chang took a fast lead of 2 up by 2, however Butler bounced again with birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 to tie the match. Chang then went 1 up on 10 after Butler bogeyed, just for Butler to reclaim a 1 up lead with wins on Nos. 11 and 12. A Chang win on 13 tied the match once more, with 5 holes left in regulation.

As darkness started to shut in, the true fireworks started. After Chang hit the flagstick on 15, the duo remained tied on the par-4 sixteenth when Chang holed out for an eagle 2 to take a 1 up lead with two holes to play.

But Butler wasn’t about to go quietly, practically holing out his method on the par-5 seventeenth to tap-in birdie vary, night the match as soon as once more because the gamers headed to the 18th tee.

Butler then hit his drive on 18 greater than 330 yards into the water — however he didn’t understand it from the tee. Chang, in the meantime, discovered the golf green and the inexperienced in regulation. Then, with floodlights illuminating the inexperienced, Butler practically holed out his restoration, then drained the brief putt he had left to stay tied with a monumental par.

And then, with all that adrenaline pumping for each gamers, it was time to name it a day. The duo needed to return early Friday morning to finish their match. Butler finally prevailed with a par on the primary gap to win in 19 holes.

Now Butler, the No. 11 seed, faces Mexican participant Jose Islas, the No. 30 seed, within the quarterfinals. Quite a approach to begin the day.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of feminine varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everybody on the masthead. She can out-hustle them within the workplace, too, the place she’s primarily liable for producing each print and on-line options, and overseeing main particular initiatives, reminiscent of GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview collection, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in each within the journal and in video kind on GOLF.com.