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Zach Barlow is trying to make another run in Match Play
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Aug. 26, 2009
Tulsa, Okla. - Illinois senior Zach Barlow and junior Scott Langley each won their first-round matches at the 109th U.S. Amateur on Wednesday at Southern Hills in Tulsa. Barlow defeated Walker Cup participant Nathan Smith of Pittsburgh, Pa., 2up while Langley downed David Sheman of Canada, 2 & 1 to advance to Thursday's morning's second round.
Barlow will meet second-seed Mark Anderson of Beaufort, S.C., at 8:50 am Thursday morning while Langley will again play a non-American in Marcel Puyat of the Philippines at 9:10 am. The round of 16 is Thursday afternoon.
Barlow was in a 12-way tie for 20th through stroke play, but got the 31st seed in the 64-man field. He fell behind Smith by three holes through six before picking up steam midway through the round. Barlow won holes 7, 10, 12, 13, and 14 to take firm control of the match.
"After the start I had, I just wanted to try hang in there and get it together," Barlow said. "Nathan is a great Walker Cup player and it was a great match."
Barlow credits 12 as the turning point in the match. He made a long par putt while Smith three putted for bogey making the match all square.
Langley, meanwhile, got off to the lead, pacing Sheman by two through five holes, Sheman, though, won holes 8, 10 and 11 giving the Canadian the lead for the first time.
"I had a lot of chances and put the pressure on him at the beginning then at the end," Langley said. "My whole idea was to focus on what I could control through the first nine holes. I played well during stroke play and I felt I had a good a mindset from the beginning."
After Sheman double bogyed 12, the competitors halved 13 and 14 before the match turned on the par four 15th. Langley's approach shot was just 10 feet past the hole, then he made a fast downhill putt for birdie to take the lead. Langley clinched the victory with a chip shot on 17 to within six feet of the cup. He tapped in for birdie and the win.
Sophomore Luke Guthrie was in a 27-way tie for 61st in stroke play and wasn't one of the four players who advanced out of the playoff.
