HIGHLAND PARK, IL. – Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira, Rising University of Arkansas senior and All-American, defeated Travis Vick 2&1 in Saturday morning’s semifinals and then turned around in the afternoon to finish second in the prestigious Western Amateur Championship, held at Exmoor Country Club to become.
In the matchplay portion, Fernandez de Oliveira lost his first hole played in the first round of 16, winning three of the next four holes and not giving up the lead until the 12thth hole of his championship round.
In the semi-final game, Fernandez de Oliveira secured an early 3-up lead by winning birdies on holes 3, 5 and 7. Vick, a University of Texas All-American and 2022 US Open-Low amateur, got on the board with a birdie on hole 8. However, Fernandez de Oliveira responded by winning holes 9 and 10 to go with 4- to lead up. The duo connected holes 11 and 12 – thanks to an impressive putt from the rim for par on 12 – before Vick won holes 13 and 14 to add interest. Fernandez de Oliveira grinded pars on holes 15, 16 and 17 to secure the 2&1 win.
As in the morning semifinals, Fernandez de Oliveira took an early lead in the afternoon’s championship game against Greaser, a two-time University of North Carolina All-American and 2021 USA runner-up. Fernandez de Oliveira won the opening hole and chipped for a birdie out of the bunker on hole 3 for a 2-up lead. Greaser halved his deficit by winning hole 4 and later made up the match by winning hole 8. Fernandez de Oliveira responded immediately by darting at 4ft on the 9th hole and converting the birdie to regain the advantage.
This dart on #9 has @MateofdeoMateo 1 🆙 through the Front Nine in Exmoor. #WesternAmateur @RazorbackMGolf pic.twitter.com/97zcSx8bzl
— WGA Championships (@WGAChamps) August 6, 2022
The pair traded the next two holes, with Fernandez de Oliveira heading for the 13thth with a 1-up lead. Greaser took advantage of Fernandez de Oliveira’s missed birdie putt to win the hole and level the match. Greaser then shagged on the 14thth hole to take his first lead of the round.
Greaser didn’t let up for the rest of the afternoon, ending with a 1-hole lead over Fernandez de Oliveira.
Fernandez de Oliveira is ranked 29th in the World Amateur Golf Championship, Vick 15th and Greaser 8th.
Fernandez de Oliveira and Wil Gibson will play in the US Amateur Championships from August 15th to 21st in Paramus, NJ. Gibson qualified based on his WAGR ranking and Gibson was a co-medalist at the Maumelle Qualifier (Desoto Golf Club) and shot 64-69.
REMARKS:
Mateo was T-4 after stroke play (66-72-69-68=275/-9)
In match play, Mateo:
– defeated Florida Gator and WAGR #47 Yuxin Lin, 6&4, in the Rd of 16
– def. Vanderbilt Commodore and WAGR #22 Cole Sherwood, 3&1, in quarterfinals
– def. Texas Longhorn and WAGR #15 Travis Vick, 2&1, in semifinals
Mateo has had a phenomenal 2022 so far.
– won the South American amateur championship
– Second in the Latin America Amateur
– 5th at the European Amateur Championships
– 9th in the NCAA Championship
– Member of the Arnold Palmer Cup winner and was the only Team International player to record a perfect 4-0
The Western Amateur is not only one of the most prestigious events in the world, it is also perhaps the most grueling event at any level. The event lasts five days, each with 18 holes on the first two days and 36 holes on the third day to declare a 72-hole medalist. The matchplay includes a round of 16 and quarterfinals on Friday, with the semifinals and championship on Saturday.
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Golf, click here @RazorbackMGolf on Twitter.
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