Closer look at the U.S. Amateur semifinalists
It started with 312.
It was dwindled to 64.
Now only four players remain as the 121st U.S. Amateur moves into the weekend at softened Oakmont Country Club.
On Saturday, college standouts Travis Vick, Nick Gabrelcik, Austin Greaser and James Piot will play for spots in Sunday’s 36-hole championship.
Vick and Greaser will square off at 2 p.m. Saturday, with Gabrelcik and Piot to follow at 2:20.
The U.S. Amateur champion and runner-up will earn a spot in the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.
The players who lose in the semis earn a two-year exemption in the U.S. Amateur.
The four players who lost in the quarterfinals are exempt into next year’s U.S. Amateur, which runs Aug. 15-21 at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J.
Gates open at noon Saturday.
The matches will be televised from 3-4 p.m. on Golf Channel, and from 4-6 p.m. on NBC.
The championship match begins at 9 a.m. Sunday. The second round is set for 2 p.m.
Here is a closer look at the semifinalists:
Travis Vick
Age: 21
Hometown: Hunters Creek Village, Texas
College/Year: Texas, junior
Amateur world ranking: 45
Notables: Vick is the highest seed remaining in the event, at No. 4. This is his fifth U.S. Amateur appearance and his best showing in match play. He defeated Preston Summerhays in the first round, and his Texas teammate, Parker Coody, in the quarterfinals, before wins over Jose Islas and Brian Stark, who birdied holes 16 and 17 to take the match the distance. Vick posted three wins in one day Friday. Vick was a first-team All-American as a sophomore. He was a three-sport athlete at Second Baptist High School, also playing football and baseball. He was a talented quarterback and linebacker. He was third at this year’s Sunnehanna Amateur. Hal Sutton is a family friend.
That's two!
Travis Vick, a 21-year-old from Houston who plays for @TexasMGolf is on to the #USAmateur Semifinals.
Stroke Play: (-5)
R64: 2&1 over Summerhays
R32: 3&2 over Coody
R16: 3&2 over Islas
QF: 1 up over Stark— USGA (@USGA) August 13, 2021
Austin Greaser
Age: 20
Hometown: Vandalia, Ohio
College/Year: North Carolina, junior
Amateur world ranking: 82
Notables: The No. 24 seed, Greaser defeated Jacob Bridgeman, 6 and 4, and Ross Steelman to reach the semis. A quarterfinalist in the 2019 U.S. Junior Amateur, Greaser also made the semifinals of the recent Western Amateur. He is playing in his third U.S. Amateur. He shot a 62 in this year’s qualifier. Greaser was the Ohio Amateur champion in 2020, where he broke Ben Curtis’ tournament record of 18-under. Other wins this week came against Bo Andrews (2 and 1) and Xavier Marcoux (3 and 2). Steelman rallied to cut a three-hole deficit to one before Greaser held on. Has a twin brother, Byron. Greaser has trailed for just three holes in his four matches and has yet to play the 18th hole in match play.
That's one! @AustinGreaser, a 20-year-old from Vandalia, Ohio who plays for @UNCmensGolf is on to the #USAmateur Semifinals.
Stroke Play: (-1)
R64: 2&1 over Andrews
R32: 3&2 over Marcoux
R16: 6&4 over Bridgeman
QF: 2&1 over Steelman— USGA (@USGA) August 13, 2021
Nick Gabrelcik
Age: 19
Hometown: Trinity, Fla.
College/Year: North Florida, sophomore
Amateur world ranking: 28
Notables: Playing in his first USGA championship, the 6-foot-2 Gabrelcik won three college events this year - The Hayt, General Hackler and Sea Best Invitational - and carded seven top-10 finishes. He was a first-team All-American. He was the recipient of the Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award. Gabrelcik has posted 18 under-par rounds in college so far. He made an hole-in-one on the same hole where his grandfather made his first ace. A semifinalist for the Ben Hogan and Haskins awards, his wins this week came against Kieran Vincent (1 up), No. 3 seed Michael Thorbjornsen (2 and 1), Hugo Townsend (19 holes) and Davis Chatfield (1 up). His parents, Don and Arnette, are from Pittsburgh.
4-for-4!@nickgabrelcik63, a 19-year-old from Trinity, Fla., who plays for @OspreyMGolf is on to the #USAmateur Semifinals.
Stroke Play: (E)
R64: 1 up over Vincent
R32: 2&1 over Thorbjornsen
R16: 19 holes over Townsend
QF: 1 up over Chatfield— USGA (@USGA) August 13, 2021
James Piot
Age: 22
Hometown: Canton, Mich.
College/Year: Michigan State, senior
Amateur world ranking: 86
Notables: Piot, playing in his third USGA championship and second U.S. Amateur, was the No. 2 seed in the 2020 Amateur and reached the Round of 32. Was the first Michigan State player to make the NCAA Championship in 19 years. A two-time All-Big Ten first team selection, he was the youngest player to make match play in Michigan Amateur history in 2013. His week started with a 1-up win over Cameron Sisk, followed by a 4 and 3 victory against Eddy Lai. On Friday, he won second-round and quarterfinal matches against Thomas Hutchison (4 and 3) and Matthew Sharpstene (3 and 1).
That's three!@jamespiot1, a 22-year-old from Canton, Mich., who plays for @msumensgolf is on to the #USAmateur Semifinals.
Stroke Play: (E)
R64: 1 up over Sisk
R32: 4&3 over Lai
R16: 4&3 over Hutchison
QF: 3&1 over Sharpstene— USGA (@USGA) August 13, 2021
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
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