Moore and List to fight out US Amateur final
BY Bruce Young | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2004 US Amateur Championship | Round Three | 22 Aug 2004
The 104th US Amateur Championship being played at the famed Winged Foot Golf Club in New York, will be decided over 36 holes tomorrow with Washington’s Ryan Moore and 19-year-old Georgian, Luke List, a second year student at Venderbilt, to fight it out for the greatest prize in amateur golf.
Moore advanced to the final by beating Jeff Overton of Indiana, recovering from a two down deficit through four holes of their eighteen hole match to eventually win at the 17th.
In the other semi-final List outlasted New Jersey’s, Chris Nallen at the first extra hole after Nallen had fought back from a two hole deficit with three to play.
Nallen, the number five ranked player in US Amateur golf this season, was never ahead in his match but still had the chance to advance to the final in overtime. It was not to be, however, as List stemmed the tide with a brilliant short iron to the par four first to set up the winning birdie. The match between List and Nallen was disrupted by rain at the 16th hole with List having a two hole lead. The earlier semi-final had finished ahead of the rain delay.
For Nallen it would have been a fitting finale in his amateur career as he is now about to turn professional.
University of Nevada’s, Moore has won the US Public Links this year so was already guaranteed a place at next year’s US Masters but would have also earned it by reaching the final here. He is also now guaranteed a start at the US Open next year and if he can win tomorrow, the British Open also. He plans to take advantage of those starts as an amateur.
Moore has been in brilliant form this year, his wins including those at the US Public Links, the Sahalee Players Championship and the Western Amateur and is the favourite to win here. As we saw last year however, when Australian Nick Flanagan toppled the more favoured Casey Wittenberg in the final, there is room for an upset even on this stage.
