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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Kyle Ellis Wins Match Play First Round On 19th Hole
8/22/2007 | Men's Golf
Ellis will face Nick Taylor of
With the match all square after 18 holes, Ellis and Cauley headed back to the par-5 first hole to begin a playoff. Ellis got a lucky break and made the most of it to win the match 1-up.
“On the playoff hole, I pulled my second shot left of the green by about 30 yards,” he said. “I thought the ball was lost and it was over. I got lucky. The ball kicked out of the tree and I was able to get up and down for a four. He made par and I won.”
The first time around on the opening hole, Ellis made birdie, but Cauley sank a putt for eagle for the 1-up lead to begin the match. Ellis birdied the second hole to square it, but a bogey on the fourth left him one down again. Both players pared holes 5-8.
Cauley carded back-to-back bogeys on nine and 10, while Ellis birdied 10 to take his first lead of the match. Both players missed short putts on No. 11 and then Ellis bogeyed 12 and Cauley pared to go all-square.
Ellis found himself trailing again after a bogey on the par-3 15th, but Cauley followed up with a bogey on the 607-yard par-5 16th. The match remained all square through the final two holes, setting up the final outcome.
“It was a little tougher today, than yesterday,” Ellis said. “There is more pressure, because you’re only playing one guy. It was a tough match, up and down for both of us. I got some lucky breaks, and took advantage of them. I feel like I can beat any guy in the field if I play well.”
The Olympic Club has hosted eight USGA championships. Included in the mix are four U.S. Opens and two U.S. Amateurs. It hosted the Open in 1955, 1966, 1987 and 1998. The Amateur was contested at Olympic in 1958 and 1981.
Thursday’s action features two rounds. Friday will have the quarterfinals, with the semifinals on Saturday. The championship will feature 36 holes on Sunday.
The Golf Channel will televise the second round of match play from 5:30-7:30 p.m. CT, Thursday. To follow Ellis hole-by-hole during match play, go to www.olemisssports.com and click on the U.S. Amateur Championship link.
