Jorgensen, Lubahn Advance At U.S Amateur Publinks
7/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 18, 2002
WASHINGTON, Mich. - Michigan State golfers Eric Jorgensen (Big Rapids, Mich.) and Casey Lubahn (Sand Lake, Mich.) moved two steps closer to facing each other in a semifinal match tomorrow afternoon at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. Both posted two match play victories today to advance to the quarterfinals, which tee off tomorrow morning.
Jorgensen, the 2002 Big Ten Championship medalist and third-team All-American honoree, topped Keith Henderson of Syosset, N.Y., 1-up in his morning match before beating Brazil's Fernando Mechereffe 6 and 5 this afternoon.
"I feel very confident going into tomorrow after playing well this afternoon," said Jorgensen, who is coming off a victory at the prestigious North and South Amateur at Pinehurst, N.C., earlier this month. "Putting like I did this afternoon, I got my stroke back that I had in qualifying."
Lubahn cruised into the quarterfinals with a pair of decisive victories. The junior-to-be bested Brett Jones of Paducah, Ky., 7 and 6, in his morning match and downed South African Justin Walter 7 and 5 this afternoon.
"I just played well and ran into a couple of guys who weren't on top of their games," said Lubahn. "I was 11-under through 26 holes. That'll do it most of the time."
The highest remaining seed in the Amateur Publinks field, Jorgensen faces Chris Stroud of Groves, Texas, in his quarterfinal match tomorrow morning while Lubahn meets Ryan Moore of Puyallup, Wash. Should the MSU golfers post wins, they'd meet in the semifinals that afternoon.
"Casey's an absolutely awesome match player," said Jorgensen. "He destroys people out there. It's going to be tough if we meet."
"Jorgensen is a guy who has pushed me to work harder and to be a better player," said Lubahn. "My success here is a result of him and some other guys pushing me along the way."