It's An SFU Clan Sweep At Pitt Meadows GC U.S. Amateur Qualifier
Sy Lovan (R) Was The Medallist While Chris Crisologo (L) Took The Second U.S. Amateur Qualifying Spot At Pitt Meadows GC In A Playoff. The Two Were Teammates On The SFU Men's Golf Team, With Crisologo Graduating This Year - Image Credit David Atkinson/BC Golf
Simon Fraser University Clan Men's Golf Team standouts Sy Lovan and Chris Crisologo took the two available spots at a U.S. Amateur Qualifier held at Pitt Meadows GC on Monday in what turned out to be a very long, hot day at the 'Pitt'.
The scheduled 36-hole qualifier stretched into a 41-hole marathon for Crisologo who had to play 5 extra holes with UBC Golf Team member Zaahidali (Ziggy) Nathu before determining the 2nd qualifiying place.
The playoff was played on the first and 18th holes, repeating the route until a winner was determined. Crisologo's eagle on their 3rd trip down the par 5 1st hole proved the difference with Richmond's Nathu taking the first alternate position from this site. The second alternate spot went to Surrey's Jae Hoon (Ian) Kim.
The day began with tee times starting at 7:30am for a field of 73 players looking for those two coveted places to take part in the 2018 U.S. Amateur being held this year Aug. 13 – Aug 19, at the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links along 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, California, also site of the upcoming 2019 U.S. Open.
The field then headed out for round two beginning at 12:30pm in what were very warm conditions with no clouds or wind in temperatures around 30 degrees.
Crisologo who just finished his senior year at SFU and fellow Richmond resident Mike Aizawa were the first round leaders with 5-under par 67's, with Kim one shot back. As the scores from the afternoon round started coming in it appeared for a long while that Crisologo and Aizawa's scores were going to hold up. Unfortunately Aizawa could only manage a 3-over 75 in round two dropping him back into a T8.
Then late in the day Lovan, a communications major who just finished his sophomore year at SFU, turned in his stellar 6-under par 66 that included 6 birdies and an eagle to offset 2 bogeys, that put him alone at the top earning medallist honours with an 8-under score for the 36 holes. It was Nathu's 5-under 67 that brought him out of the pack and into the playoff with Crisologo who settled for a 1-under 71 in the afternoon.
A three-time Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and four-time All-Conference First Team honouree, Crisologo is also fresh off his first B.C. Amateur victory last week at Rivershore Golf Links in Kamloops, making it a pretty satisfying week for the Marine Drive GC member.
Click HERE for final scoring from the qualifier.