Posted at 2:09 p.m., Friday, July 14, 2006
Kaua'i's Watabu reaches U.S. Publinx title match
Advertiser Staff
Kaua'i golfer Casey Watabu defeated Tim Feenstra of Lynden, Wash., on the 20th hole Friday to advance to the final of the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in Bremerton, Wash.Watabu, 22, of Kapa'a, faces Anthony Kim of Traverse City, Mich., in the 36-hole, match play final on Saturday.
The U.S. Publinx winner typically gets an invitation to the Masters as long as the player remains an amateur.
Watabu was 1-up as late as the 17th hole, but the match went back to all-square when Feenstra birdied the par-4 18th hole.
The players halved the 19th hole before Watabu sank a birdie at the 20th to win the hole and the match.
Kim defeated Kevin Larsen of Santa Barbara, Calif., 6 and 5. Kim took a 1-up lead on the par-3 fifth hole and built it to 6-up with a birdie on the par-3 12th hole. The players halved the 13th hole, giving Kim the victory.
In the morning quarterfinals, Watabu defeated Daniel Im, of Fullerton, Calif., 3 and 1.
Watabu never trailed in his match at the Gold Mountain Golf Club. He ended with match by winning the 17th hole with a birdie, putting him three holes up with one hole remaining. Watabu, a recent University of Nevada graduate, plays Tim Feenstra of Lynden, Wash., in the semifinals later on Friday.
Feenstra defeated Sihwan Kim of Buena Park, Calif., 1-up in the quarterfinals.
