John Augenstein has advanced to the U.S. Amateur final and will play in both the Masters and the U.S. Open in 2020. He also has a chance to make the 2019 Walker Cup team as well as earn an exemption to the British Open in 2020.
Augenstein beat William Holcomb V 3 and 2 in Saturday’s semifinal at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club to qualify for two of next year’s most prestigious majors. Andy Ogletree beat Cohen Trolio in the other semifinal.
Augenstein will play Ogletree in a 36-hole championship that begins at 8 a.m. Sunday. TV coverage will begin at 2:30 p.m. on FOX. For the first time in history, the 36-hole final match will take place over two courses — the first 18 holes will be played at Pinehurst No. 4 and the second 18 are on Pinehurst No. 2.
The Owensboro Catholic graduate and current senior at Vanderbilt is currently ranked No. 38 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. He was the highest ranked of the four semifinalists.
Augenstein parred the first 15 holes of his match before a birdie was conceded for the win on No. 16. He stroked a drive down the middle of the fairway and put his second shot safely on the green, while Holcomb was left scrambling.
Holcomb’s tee shot went left and landed in the rough, and his second shot was short of the green. A mishit then sent the ball well past the flag, and a long par putt wasn’t close. With Augenstein well within two-putt range, Holcomb conceded the hole and was left with a loss.
Augenstein found himself trailing for the first time all tournament after Holcomb birdied No. 3, but he won the next hole to pull back even. He then won holes No. 6 and 7 before losing No. 9, leaving him 1-up with nine holes to play.
Both players used a strong short game to halve the next four holes before Augenstein went 2-up on No. 14 — his chip stopped about a foot from the cup for a conceded par, while Holcomb’s short putt to halve the hole lipped out.
Though he’s already earned spots in two of next year’s majors, there’s still more to play for in Sunday’s final. In addition to the U.S. Amateur trophy, Augenstein would earn an automatic spot on the 2019 Walker Cup team and an exemption to the 2020 British Open.
