Puyat blows quarterfinal bid in US Amateur

MANILA, Philippines - Marcel Puyat blew a two-up lead with three holes to go, enabling Bhavik Patel of California to snatch a 1-up victory and foil the Filipino bet’s bid for a quarterfinal seat in the US Amateur Golf Championship at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma Thursday.

Puyat, who earlier stunned seventh seed Scott Langley, 4&3, in the Last 32 in the morning match, appeared headed for the quarters when he moved 2-up over Patel with a birdie on the par-4 15th.

But the 16-year-old Puyat, the youngest in the fold, cracked under pressure and bogeyed the last three holes while Patel came through with a slew of pars to steal the match and the spot in the quarterfinal round.

It was a sorry foldup for the top member of the ICTSI golf squad, whose campaign in the US most prestigious amateur tournament was marked by stirring comebacks from the 36-hole stroke play elims up to the first round of the knockout phase.

He was near flawless against Langley, ramming in three birdies in an eight-hole stretch to post leads of as many as six before cruising to a 4&3 rout of one of the fancied players in the field.

Puyat sustained his form when he faced Patel in their afternoon duel, seizing a two-up lead after three holes only to reel back with bogeys and fall behind by two after No. 8.

But he fought back and forced an all-square match after 11 then birdied No. 12 and 15 to go 2-up with three holes to go.

Meanwhile, top seed Tim Jackson fell by the wayside in the Last 32 as No. 33 Charlie Holland scored a 1-up win over the low medalist and then beat Christopher Ross of Canada, 2&1, to join Patel in the quarters.