CHASKA, Minn. – Texas A&M men's golf standouts Wheaton Ennis and Phichaksn Maichon were victorious in the first day of match play at the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship Wednesday, advancing to the round of 32.
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Ennis outlasted Ziqin Zhou in 19 holes and Maichon topped Caden Fioroni, 4&3, in action at the par 72 Hazeltine National Golf Club.
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Maichon went 2-up after three holes, but Fioroni battled back to tie the match through eight. It remained tied through No. 11 before Maichon went on a heater claiming four consecutive holes to clinch it. The Bangkok, Thailand native took advantage of Fioroni bogeys on No. 12 & 13 and he closed the deal with birdies on No. 14 & 15.
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Ennis was embroiled in a donnybrook all day. He claimed 1-up leads after the first and fifth holes, but Zhou birdies at No. 6 and No. 9 put his opponent, an incoming freshman at Cal-Berkeley, 1-up at the midway point. Zhou went 2-up on No. 12 before Ennis made a late charge. The Eagle, Idaho product birdied No. 14 and No. 15 to square the match. The players halved the next three holes and returned to No. 1 to begin extra play. Ennis bogeyed the hole, but it was enough as Zhou carded a double bogey.
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Two rounds of match play are on tap for Thursday. In the round of 32, Ennis squares off with Canada's Ashton McCulloch, a rising senior at Michigan State, at 9:40 a.m. Maichon has a 10:10 a.m. bout with James Ashfield of Wales. Round of 16 action has tee times currently set from 2-3:10 p.m.
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Limited coverage of the round of 16 is available Thursday. Peacock will air coverage 4-5 p.m. while Golf Channel will follow with a broadcast from 5-7 p.m.
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For the most up-to-date information on Texas A&M men's golf follow the Aggies on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Â
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Ennis outlasted Ziqin Zhou in 19 holes and Maichon topped Caden Fioroni, 4&3, in action at the par 72 Hazeltine National Golf Club.
Â
Maichon went 2-up after three holes, but Fioroni battled back to tie the match through eight. It remained tied through No. 11 before Maichon went on a heater claiming four consecutive holes to clinch it. The Bangkok, Thailand native took advantage of Fioroni bogeys on No. 12 & 13 and he closed the deal with birdies on No. 14 & 15.
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Ennis was embroiled in a donnybrook all day. He claimed 1-up leads after the first and fifth holes, but Zhou birdies at No. 6 and No. 9 put his opponent, an incoming freshman at Cal-Berkeley, 1-up at the midway point. Zhou went 2-up on No. 12 before Ennis made a late charge. The Eagle, Idaho product birdied No. 14 and No. 15 to square the match. The players halved the next three holes and returned to No. 1 to begin extra play. Ennis bogeyed the hole, but it was enough as Zhou carded a double bogey.
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Two rounds of match play are on tap for Thursday. In the round of 32, Ennis squares off with Canada's Ashton McCulloch, a rising senior at Michigan State, at 9:40 a.m. Maichon has a 10:10 a.m. bout with James Ashfield of Wales. Round of 16 action has tee times currently set from 2-3:10 p.m.
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Limited coverage of the round of 16 is available Thursday. Peacock will air coverage 4-5 p.m. while Golf Channel will follow with a broadcast from 5-7 p.m.
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For the most up-to-date information on Texas A&M men's golf follow the Aggies on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.Â