08-20-2018, 10:29 AM
Just to close the loop on the US Amateur...
Isaiah Salinda lost in the semifinals to Devon Bling (UCLA soph), 1 down. It went to the 18th hole, with Salinda needing to win the hole to extend the match. I am sure you have seen 18 at Pebble, a par 5 with water all the way down the left hand side, a lone Monterrey cypress tree in the middle of the fairway at about 280 yards, a giant sand trap all along the left side for the last 150 yards or so. Both players hit beautiful tee shots and decided to go for the green with their seconds. Isaiah unfortunately tugged his into a green side bunker. He hit an average shot from the sand and had about 15 feet for birdie. In the meantime, Bling hit a pretty lousy lag putt from the front of the green, leaving himself 10 feet or so. Salinda needed to make his birdie putt to really put a lot of pressure on Bling. He hit it too hard, which took out the break and it slid by 4 feet or so. Bling ran his birdie try past by two feet. Both made par, and Bling advanced.
Isaiah played really well. He was four under on his round, with six birdies. Bling just played one stroke better. No real regrets - he brought his A game, and his opponent brought his A+ game. It was really great to see all of the coverage that Isaiah got, including his pre-shot discussions with Bradley Knox. For whatever reason, the microphones really picked up on that.
What the summer tells us is that Wu and Salinda bring a strong one-two as they head into their senior years. The rest of the team is unproven.
P.S. Bling lost to Viktor Hovland in the 36 hole final 6 and 5. Hovland is an OK St senior by way of Norway, and is ranked 5th in the world.
Isaiah Salinda lost in the semifinals to Devon Bling (UCLA soph), 1 down. It went to the 18th hole, with Salinda needing to win the hole to extend the match. I am sure you have seen 18 at Pebble, a par 5 with water all the way down the left hand side, a lone Monterrey cypress tree in the middle of the fairway at about 280 yards, a giant sand trap all along the left side for the last 150 yards or so. Both players hit beautiful tee shots and decided to go for the green with their seconds. Isaiah unfortunately tugged his into a green side bunker. He hit an average shot from the sand and had about 15 feet for birdie. In the meantime, Bling hit a pretty lousy lag putt from the front of the green, leaving himself 10 feet or so. Salinda needed to make his birdie putt to really put a lot of pressure on Bling. He hit it too hard, which took out the break and it slid by 4 feet or so. Bling ran his birdie try past by two feet. Both made par, and Bling advanced.
Isaiah played really well. He was four under on his round, with six birdies. Bling just played one stroke better. No real regrets - he brought his A game, and his opponent brought his A+ game. It was really great to see all of the coverage that Isaiah got, including his pre-shot discussions with Bradley Knox. For whatever reason, the microphones really picked up on that.
What the summer tells us is that Wu and Salinda bring a strong one-two as they head into their senior years. The rest of the team is unproven.
P.S. Bling lost to Viktor Hovland in the 36 hole final 6 and 5. Hovland is an OK St senior by way of Norway, and is ranked 5th in the world.