Cowan, Sands join Hughes, Lane in match play at U.S. Amateur
Surviving a playoff at 2-over par, Ryder Cowan of Edmond and Parker Sands of Edmond both advanced to match play this morning at the U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.
They will join Chase Hughes of Oklahoma City and Gaven Lane of Oklahoma State University as players with Oklahoma ties to advance.
Cowan and Sands, who played in the final group of the Trans-Mississippi Amateur at Southern Hills in July with Sands winning it, advanced to the first round of match play after rallies on their final nines.
Cowan was 6-over for the tournament after a double bogey on his third hole (the 12th) on Tuesday, but played 4-under from that point to make the playoff. Sands also struggled early but shot a 1-under 33 on the back nine to get in. Cowan birdied the first playoff hole while Sands made a par as 16 golfers battled for 11 spots.
Hughes, at 16 the youngest member of the USGA Junior National Team, shot rounds of 71-70 to qualify in a tie for 33rd while Lane shot 69-72 to also tie for 33rd.
