Sometimes you can hold golf in the palm of your hand, sometimes you can’t. Just ask Brian Ohr, Eric Bae and Ray Kraivixien.
Miami of Ohio Senior, Brian Ohr, shot 6-over, 146 for his two days on Pinehurst No. 2 and was tied with 9 other players for the chance to advance to the next round at the 118th North and South Men’s Amateur. After 36 holes, he still needed a win in a playoff to advance as the last seed of the tournament.
Courtesy photo of Brian Ohr from Miami of Ohio University
In head-to-head match play today, Ohr defeated the top seed Cooper Musselman from the University of Kentucky in the morning by a razor close margin but then lost to Ryan Gerard in the afternoon round.
Eric Bae, former Pinecrest High School standout golfer, came from behind to tie his match with 3 birdies in the last 4 holes, but lost on the first extra playoff hole.
Courtesy photo of Eric Bae fromWake Forest University
“I played pretty sloppy most the the day but the last 4 holes, I hit the shots I needed to under pressure“ said Bae. “When I needed to dig deep and hit the shot, I was able to.” He will next play in the Carolinas Amaetuer and then the Southern and Western Amaetuer.
In a good example of how golf has become an international game, Ray Kraivixien, from Bangkok, Thailand won his morning match, then was knocked off in the afternoon by Honolulu, Hawaii native Kyle Suppa but only after playing 3 extra playoff holes to decide the match. Kraivixien, a U. S. Kids champion, will travel back to Thailand for the summer before finishing his senior year at Campbell University.
Photo by John Patota, Sandhills Sentinel Contributor
Other notable golfers to miss the cut are U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion and 2018 U.S. Open Low Amateur, Matt Parziale and defending champion William Nottingham.
“The Round of 16 will be played on Wednesday while the Quarterfinals and Semifinals will be played on Thursday” said Brian Fahey, Director of Tournament Operations, Pinehurst Resort & Country Club. “The Championship finals will be played at 7 a.m. on Friday. Admittance to all rounds is free to the public and all are encouraged to come watch”.
Article written by John Patota, Sandhills Sentinel Contributor.
Feature photo of Ray Kraivixien by John Patota.
