August 7, 2009

The Kid's Got Game

Catching up with the Cameron Wilson and Colin Dolph match on the ninth hole, Wilson drained a curling 55-footer for birdie and to win the hole, putting him 2-up.

Billy Condon

Live Blog from the Quagliano-Wilson Match

Stepping to the tee on the par-three 17th hole and down two, Quagliano needs to knock his shot close - and does! However, Wilson answers yet again and his ball comes to rest inside of Quagliano's. Quagliano misses his birdie putt and concedes the hole, resulting in a first-round victory for Cameron Wilson.

Billy Condon

Live Blog from the Quagliano-Wilson Match

Quagliano found himself on the front of the green on the 16th hole while Wilson hit his approach long into the rough behind the green. Wilson chips and nearly sinks the shot. Quagliano needs to make his par putt - and he makes the four-foot tester.

Billy Condon

Live Blog from the Quagliano-Wilson Match

On 15, Quagliano ropes a drive down the middle of the fairway and Wilson follows by pulling his shot to the right under a tree. Wilson punches out down the fairway and eventually sinks a 12-footer for birdie. Quagliano answers again and makes his birdie putt.

Wilson hits his drive on the par-4 hole-high and Quagliano hits his approach to fifteen feet. Quagliano proceeds to pour in his birdie putt while Wilson misses his.

On the par-three 12th, Quagliano is just short of the green while Wilson flew the green. Quagliano chipped up and made par but Wilson made a spectacular up and down to halve the hole.

Billy Condon

Live Blog from the Quagliano-Wilson Match

The par-four tenth hole proved to be a rewarding for Wilson, as he made a birdie four and moved to 3-up in the match.

Billy Condon

Live Blog from the Quagliano-Wilson Match

The players reach the par-four ninth hole, where Wilson sticks his approach shot. Quagliano, who was on in three, concedes the hole and goes 2-down. Quagliano, who was runner-up at the Met Amateur in 2003, has some ground to make up as the players move to the challenging back nine at Hackensack Golf Club.

Billy Condon

Live Blog from the Quagliano-Wilson Match

The players came to the 398-yard 7th hole all square, but it was Wilson who walked away with a 1-up lead. Quagliano was on in two, but an unfortunate three putt led to a bogey to Wilson's par. The players halved the par-five 8th hole and Wilson remains 1-up.

Billy Condon

Live Blog from the Quagliano-Wilson Match

Wilson hit his first fairway of the day at the par-four fifth hole, but Quagliano narrowly misses his birdie putt and Wilson concedes the hole. Both players are intensely focused and conversation has been at a minimum.

The players halve the par-three sixth hole after just missing a pair of makeable birdie putts. The match remains all square through six holes.

Billy Condon

Live Blog from the Quagliano-Wilson Match

Sixteen players advanced to match play at the 107th Met Amateur Championship at Hackensack Golf Club in Oradell, N.J. Billy Condon of the MGA Communications staff is following the match between 2009 Carter Cup champ Cameron Wilson of Shorehaven and former Duke University golf team captain Michael Quagliano of GlenArbor.

Wilson is 1-up through three holes after making par on the long, par-four second hole to Quagliano's bogey. A pair of 4s at the fourth hole keep Wilson 1-up, despite the fact that he has missed three fairways. He has relied on his short game and its paying off.