John Augenstein is one match-play win away from earning an invitation to the 2020 Masters Tournament. If the Owensboro Catholic graduate wins Saturday’s semifinal match of the U.S. Amateur Championship, he’ll qualify for next year’s prestigious major.
Augenstein — currently ranked No. 38 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings — will face William Holcomb V in the semifinal match beginning at 1:35 p.m. Saturday. The winner advances to 36-hole championship match Sunday, with both the champion and runner-up receiving an invite to the Masters.
Augenstein, a rising senior at Vanderbilt, used an early lead Friday to eventually beat Palmer Jackson 3 and 2 at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club. Augenstein was 3-up through five holes, but lost some momentum after a rain delay.
He lead was trimmed to 1-up through nine holes, and the pair of amateurs halved the first five holes coming back in. Augentstein’s par was enough to win the par-3 No. 15 to put him back in control.
Jackson’s tee shot on the par-4 No. 16 missed the fairway right and his approach stuck on the front of the rain-softened green. After Augenstein missed a birdie putt that would have won the match, Jackson’s par attempt rolled around the edge of the cup but didn’t fall, resulting in the loss.
Augenstein has not trailed yet in match play. During stroke play, he tied for 12th with a 1-over-par through 36 holes.
He began match play by beating Ryan Smith 6 and 4 in the round of 64. Thursday, Augenstein beat two players ranked in the top 10 amateurs in the world. After claiming a 4 and 2 win over No. 5 Akshay Bhatia in the morning match, he earned a 1-up win over No. 9 Ricky Castillo in the Round of 16.
