Bielawski Advances Deep at U.S. Amateur Pub Links
7/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
July 16, 2007
MILWAUKEE - Marquette golfer Michael Bielawski had a strong run at the 2007 U.S. Amateur Public Links in Wheaton, Ill. Bielawski was one of the last 16 golfers standing in the event, which is played in a bracketed match play format.
Bielawski qualified for the head-to-head portion of the tournament through 36 holes of stroke play qualifying. Bielawski finished the stroke play at four-over, 148, tying for 25th place to easily qualify for the match-play round. More than 150 golfers attempted to qualify for the match-play rounds.
In the first round of match play, 26th-seeded Bielawski took on Timothy Madigan of Rio Rancho, N.M. Bielawski jumped to a 2-up lead by the fifth hole, but Madigan came back to earn all square by the ninth. A bogey by Madigan on the 10th and 13th set Bielawski 2-up and he advanced.
In the round of 32, Bielawski defeated Clatyon Rask of Otsego, Minn., 2 & 1. Bielawski was 1 up after one hole and never trailed in the tight match. It was all square as late as the 12th hole, but Bielawski powered to the finish. A birdie on the 14th set up the late round push.
Bielawski ran into a buzz saw in the round of 16 as he went head to head with former SMU golfer Colt Knost. Bielawski and Knost played in the Rich Harms Intercollegiate and the Pinehurst Intercollegiate in 2007.
Knost won the match 7 & 6. Bielawski had a good round, playing just one-over through the 12 holes. However, Knost was on his game, scoring a birdie on three holes and landing an eagle on the final hole of the match. Knost was the eventual champion of the U.S. public links amateur.
Bielawski was the last remaining golfer of eight from Wisconsin in the tournament.
Players Mentioned
