August 03, 2008
BENTON HARBOR, Mich.- Texas A&M sophomore Conrad Shindler lost to New Zealand's Danny Lee 4 and 2 on Sunday in the semifinals of the Western Amateur Championship at Point O'Woods Golf and Country Club.
Lee, the No. 4-ranked amateur in the world, went on to beat UCLA senior Erik Flores 4 and 2 in the final to claim the title. Lee became the first winner since Bubba Dickerson in 2001 to take both medalist and match play honors, joining an elite group of dual winners that includes Phil Mickelson (1991), Scott Verplank (1985), Curtis Strange (1974) and Ben Crenshaw (1973).
Lee birdied three of the final four holes to eliminate Shindler. He never trailed after driving the green on the par-4 eighth hole and draining a 10-foot eagle putt. Shindler briefly pulled to all square with a five-foot birdie putt on the par-3 ninth, but Lee countered with a short birdie putt on the par-4 10th to regain a 1-up lead. Lee’s birdies at 13, 15 and 16 closed out the match.
“He’s a great player,” Shindler said. “He’s not going to make the mistake to give you a free hole. I shot even par and lost, 4 and 2. I hit my putts, they just didn’t go in. I burned three edges and had one monster lip out. This shows me I can play with anyone, not just in the nation, but in the world. It’s pretty special to make it this far in such a prestigious event.”