Amateur Public Links Blog

 Greensboro, N.C. - Play in the final match of the 2010 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship resumed Saturday at 4:51 p.m after a suspension of play due to a dangerous weather situation, which began at 9:43 a.m. and lasted 7 hours and 8 minutes. Approximately 1.5 inches of rain fell on Bryan Park Golf & Conference Center during the suspension. 

 Finalists Lion Kim, 21, of Ann Arbor, Mich., and David McDaniel, 25, of Tucson, Ariz., had completed 12 holes before the suspension, with Kim holding a 2-up lead. Play in the scheduled 36-hole final will continue on Saturday as long as weather conditions and daylight allow. If necessary, play will continue on Sunday. 

2:15 p.m. -- Another dangerous weather front has arrived in the Greensboro area and is expected to take at least two hours to pass. It is still the hope of USGA championship staff that play will continue on Saturday.

Play at the 2010 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship at Bryan Park Golf & Conference Center was suspended at 9:43 a.m. due to a dangerous weather situation, with thunderstorms in the area. The finalists, Lion Kim, 21, of Ann Arbor, Mich., and David McDaniel, 25, of Tucson, Ariz., have completed 12 holes. Kim holds a 2-up lead.

In the first round of match play Wednesday, Tim Fisher, 29, of Statts Mills, W. Va., failed to appear for his 1:30 p.m. match against Josh Brock, 21, of Wilmington, N.C.

Under Rule 6-3a, the player must start at the time established by the Committee. 

For the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, the USGA uses the Note to the Rule that allows for loss of the first hole if the player does not start at the established time, but arrives, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time.  After an additional five minutes elapsed and Fisher still had not appeared, he was assessed a penalty of disqualification and Josh Brock was declared the winner of the match.

Brock will face Josh Anderson, 21, of Murrieta, Calif., in the second round of match play on Thursday.

Play was suspended at 6:18 p.m. due to a dangerous situation because of lightning in the immediate area, with 18 players yet to finish their second rounds. The second round of stroke play will resume at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, with a playoff to follow, if necessary. The first round of match play is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

On the 205-yard par-3 12th hole, Chet Vandenberg, 21, of Martin, Mich., took five strokes. His marker put him down for a four on the hole. After finishing his round, Vanderberg signed his scorecard with the incorrect four.

The group’s walking scorer later saw the discrepancy on the public scoreboard and informed USGA officials, who contacted Vanderberg as he was departing the course.

Vanderberg confirmed that he had in fact made five on the hole and signed for the lower score.

Under Rule 6-6d he was disqualified for signing for a lower score.

Championship director Bill McCarthy commended Vanderberg for his sportsmanship upon learning of his disqualification.

“He was a gentleman about it,” said McCarthy. “He handled it very well, considering his obvious disappointment.”

Vandenberg shot 79 in the first round and was 10-over in his second round before the disqualification.

-By David Normoyle