Go Matt!

[Bill Seitz]

Congrats, Matt!  I may need to call in sick tomorrow. 

[Howard Riefs]

Winner!

3 & 1

Matt advances to the round of 16, where he'll play the guy who won 8 & 6 this morning. 

The next match is scheduled for 1:50pm today.

http://www.usga.org/ChampEventScore.aspx?id=17179869327&year=2012&type=038

[J Sadowsky]

Congrats, Matt!  I may need to call in sick tomorrow.  

Will the quarterfinals be televised?

Also, Match #4 seems to be Oakmont, Pa. vs. Pittsburgh, Pa.  Little interest in that one outside of the Western Pa. region.

[John Kirk]

Congratulations, Matt.  Keep up the great work!

[Joel_Stewart]

Luckily for Matt, he didn't catch the guy he'll play if he wins this morning.   That guy went 8 under through 12 and won 8&6.  The guy he played shot +1 (and lost 8&6).  Or, to put it another way, the guy he played birdied the 9th hole to go -1 for the round - and decreased the deficit to 5 holes.  He also lost a hole with a birdie 3 (to his opponent's eagle 2, although I assume the recorded 3 was based merely on a concession as the hole was already lost).

I saw that and was blown away.

Good luck to Matt, hopefully he doesn't let this bother him.

[Bill Seitz]

The next match is scheduled for 1:50pm today.

I was afraid of that.

[Matthew Sander]

Fantastic playing Matt, keep it up!

[Jim Colton]

Winner!

3 & 1

Matt advances to the round of 16, where he'll play the guy who won 8 & 6 this morning. 

The next match is scheduled for 1:50pm today.

http://www.usga.org/ChampEventScore.aspx?id=17179869327&year=2012&type=038

Obviously will be rooting hard for Matt this afternoon, but his opponent seems like a good guy as well (and a cancer survivor):

http://www.therecord.com/sports/local/article/572921--cancer-scare-doesn-t-stop-garrett-rank-from-pursuing-his-dreams

[Joel_Stewart]

How tough is it to follow up a -8 with a similar round? Nice that Matt's down to the last 16!! Do both finalists get to Augusta or just the champion?

Just the champion but it does open the door for lots of other big time amateur events.

[Dan Kelly]

How tough is it to follow up a -8 with a similar round?

I'm sure I'm not the only one who wishes he could tell you!

[George Pazin]

Way to go, Matt! Keep it rolling.

Also, Match #4 seems to be Oakmont, Pa. vs. Pittsburgh, Pa.  Little interest in that one outside of the Western Pa. region.

Actually, both guys are fairly well-known throughout the amateur ranks, particularly among the mid am crowd. Nathan Smith is one of the biggest names out there, and Sean Knapp has fared pretty well also. IIRC, Sean Knapp lost to Tiger at the US Am at Newport, and I think it was one of the late rounds.

[J Sadowsky]

Way to go, Matt! Keep it rolling.

Also, Match #4 seems to be Oakmont, Pa. vs. Pittsburgh, Pa.  Little interest in that one outside of the Western Pa. region.

Actually, both guys are fairly well-known throughout the amateur ranks, particularly among the mid am crowd. Nathan Smith is one of the biggest names out there, and Sean Knapp has fared pretty well also. IIRC, Sean Knapp lost to Tiger at the US Am at Newport, and I think it was one of the late rounds.

Was a poor attempt at humor.

[Tim_Cronin]

Just arrived at CF. No TV for this. The wind is howling.

[George Pazin]

Way to go, Matt! Keep it rolling.

Also, Match #4 seems to be Oakmont, Pa. vs. Pittsburgh, Pa.  Little interest in that one outside of the Western Pa. region.

Actually, both guys are fairly well-known throughout the amateur ranks, particularly among the mid am crowd. Nathan Smith is one of the biggest names out there, and Sean Knapp has fared pretty well also. IIRC, Sean Knapp lost to Tiger at the US Am at Newport, and I think it was one of the late rounds.

Was a poor attempt at humor.

Not as poor as my read!

[Dan Kelly]

Matt setting up an even better story.

2-Down through 2.

[Phil McDade]

3 down through 5 -- time for the big comeback!

[Dan Kelly]

4-down through 7.

Time for the rally caps, gentlemen!

[JLahrman]

At least his opponent isn't on an 8-under par pace like he was this morning, but he does appear to be continuing his very solid play.

Still time for Matt to turn things around, but that deficit can't get any wider.

He dropped the eighth though, 5-down now.

[Terry Lavin]

I watched Matt play the front and "handed" him off to Shivas, who carried him home to victory. Matt was in a remarkably peaceful frame of mind, as if all of the pressure had been relieved by yesterday's dramatic win. He's a heck of a good player and a good guy to boot!

[Dan Kelly]

Back to 4-down after 10.

The epic rally has begun!

[Howard Riefs]

Back to 4-down after 10.

The epic rally has begun!

Amazingly, Matt's opponent has only lost three holes total in match play; this is his 3rd match.  

[Howard Riefs]

Back to 4-down after 10.

The epic rally has begun!

Amazingly, Matt's opponent has only lost three holes total in match play; this is his 3rd match.  

Make that four holes total. 

Matt won another hole: Now down 3 through 12.

[Phil McDade]

Matt's gotta have some good back nine karma, considering he went from 1 down to 3 up in the space of five holes late in his last match.

Keep the rally hats on!

[Bill Seitz]

The run ends at 5&3.  Heck of a showing, Matt.  Congratulations on getting to the sweet 16. 

[Jim Colton]

Really great showing, Matt! I have the ultimate respect for anybody who even qualifies for a USGA amateur event, not to mention advance through to match play.

Looks like that Smith/Knapp match was a great one.