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Aug. 25, 2009

Tulsa, Okla. - The NCAA instituted match play to determine the team championship for the first time in 2009. Illinois, expected to be ranked in the top 10-15 teams nationally to start the season, will have a number of players fully experienced at the match play format going into the 2009-10 season.

At the top of that list is senior Zach Barlow, who qualified for his third match play in a major event this summer with rounds of 72 and 73 at the 109th U.S. Amateur. The Illini senior tied for 20th in stroke play at +5, playing both Southern Hills and Cedar Ridge Country Clubs in Tulsa. Just two weeks ago, Barlow reached the final match at the 107th Western Amateur.

Like that event, Barlow will have the company of his teammates in the 64-man match play event, which begins Wednesday at Southern Hills. Junior Scott Langley put together rounds of 70 and 72 to tie for fifth at +2.

Sophomore Luke Guthrie, meanwhile, put together an amazing comeback. After shooting 79 on Monday at Southern Hills, he fired a one-under par 69 at Cedar Ridge early in the day on Tuesday then waited to see if it would be enough to make the cut. The result is being part of a 27-way tie for 61st at +8 for the tournament. The gaggle of players will tee off at 7:30 am Wednesday in a sudden death playoff at Southern Hills, fighting for the final four spots.

"I just wanted to put myself in position," Guthrie said after a round of two birdies, one bogey and 15 pars. "I knew today was as another day. I figured I needed to be aggressive, but at the same wanted just to play solid. I hit more fairways and greens today, which was key."

Barlow understands the accomplishment of being in the final 64 out of a field of 312, one of the largest you'll see.

"Southern Hills is an unbelievable course, right up there with Olympia Fields," Barlow said. "I didn't play great, but managed two solid rounds. It's a great accomplishment to make it; now it's about taking it one match at a time."

Or even one shot at a time. While one of golf's best short game players in Steve Stricker gave a clinic at Stone Creek in Urbana on Monday, Barlow demonstrated his skills in that area at Southern Hills Tuesday. He missed the green on his first four holes, yet managed to get up and down each time for par.

"My short game saved me," Barlow said. " I had some nasty lies, yet somehow managed to get it up and down each time. It set the tone for the round."

Barlow began with seven pars and was even at the turn. A pair of birdies on 12 and 13 got him to one under for the day and one over for the tournament, but he shot +4 over the final five holes.

He admits that now he's in, the experience he had over the past couple of months will be valuable. For starters, the Oklahoma summer heat was only 91-95 degrees, a far cry from near 110-degree temperatures he and Guthrie experienced at the U.S. Amateur Public Links in Norman last month. Secondly, while Barlow made two unbelievable clutch shots to advance in separate rounds of the Western Amateur, he says having the right approach is key.

"I learned a lot at the Western Amateur that I can apply to this week," Barlow said. "In match play you're never in as bad of shape as you think, but you can't get too far ahead of yourselves either. You don't have to do something extra special. You can only gain or lose one on each hole."

Langley also played Southern Hills on Tuesday, firing a two-over par 72 after shooting even par 70 at Cedar Ridge on Monday. He has also had some critical up and downs to save a good round today and credits a good start Monday for putting him in position.

"I haven't got off to a great start my last couple of tournaments," Langley said. "I was focused on getting a solid first round and putting myself in good position. I accomplished what I wanted to which is just advance.

"A lot of good things are happening with my game right now," he added. "The last couple of days my whole game is really starting to come around. Tomorrow's a clean slate. Match play is all about experience and Luke, Zach and I have had some opportunities."

Two other Illini, senior Clayton Parkhill and sophomore Mason Jacobs, participated, but did not make the cut.

Parings for the 64-man match-play tournament will be determined following the playoff. The first round action gets underway Wednesday. Second and third rounds are slated for Thursday, quarterfinals are Friday and semifinals on Saturday with the 36-hole final capping off the event on Sunday.

Barlow believes the experience gained by he and his teammates will also come in handy should the Illini reach the final eight at the NCAA next June.

"It can do nothing but help our team," he said.

You can follow the action live at usamateur.org.